Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Chapter 17

"Morning, Dros," Zhane yawned as he strolled onto the Bridge early the next morning. "You're up early."

"Couldn't sleep."

"Oh." Zhane stifled another yawn with his hand. "Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?"

"I... she's not my girlfriend," Andros muttered, blushing immediately. "Can we not talk about this?"

Damn, but he wanted to know what had happened the night before. Zhane had spent half an hour trying to coax the story out of him, but Andros hadn't said a word. His friend had just sat there with that stupid grin on his face, so Zhane assumed that it couldn't have gone too badly...

"Don't I get a say in this?" another sleepy voice inquired, and Zhane turned to see Ashley sleepwalk onto the Bridge. "Because I'm telling people you're my boyfriend."

"You... are?"

Ashley nodded. "Unless you don't want me to."

"No, it's all right." Andros ducked his head, and Zhane saw him smile. "You can say that."

He thought Ashley had trouble not to giggle. She came up behind Andros's seat and leaned over to throw her arms around his neck in an impulsive hug, whispering in his ear something that Zhane couldn't hear.

The Silver Ranger raised an eyebrow when Andros didn't seem to mind the hug. He did pull away rather quickly, but considering that the last time Zhane had come up behind him Andros had nearly put him into a coma... Okay, so he'd been testing out the new costume he'd bought and it had been dark out, but still.

"Well, I think I'm going to go have breakfast now," he announced loudly, wondering if Astronema would care to join him. Yeah. He really should mention that to Andros.

"Okay," Ashley answered distractedly, smiling at a clearly flustered Andros. "Sounds good."

He rolled his eyes at the pair of them before retreating into the hall. Now that he thought of it, he really was hungry. Stomach growling, Zhane set off cheerfully for the holding bay.

He never reached it. Halfway there, Deca's voice requested all Rangers present on the Bridge. With a heavy sigh, Zhane turned around, wondering what trouble Andros had managed to get himself into in two minutes.

The doors were still open, and Zhane spotted Andros from halfway down the corridor. There was something unsettling about the way his friend stood so stiffly, hands clasped behind his back. Ashley looked equally tense, and as he drew closer he saw the Phantom Ranger standing morphed off to the side.

He stepped back onto the Bridge and probably didn't do a very good job of hiding the grimace that he felt on his face. The Red Eltaran Ranger stared out at them from the viewing screen, and Zhane distinctly remembered disliking him.

"We would maximize our chances of weakening Dark Spectre by finding Zordon," Tan insisted. "The Eltaran team is immobilized. We have no ships, no supplies. The Phantom Ranger was charged with recovering Zordon, and if he has become a member of your crew then you are as well."

"We have been searching for Zordon," Andros replied patiently. Zhane had a feeling it wasn't the first time he'd said it. "We'll keep you informed of our progress."

"And what progress would that be?" Tan prompted. "I see none."

"We recently traced Zordon to the Vica Galaxy," Andros informed him. "I believe he was taken again by Divatox."

The Eltaran considered that for a few moments. "And since then?"

Andros didn't reply.

"I assumed as much. Your team will report to Meisia, where Cia can brief you in person." One corner of his mouth turned up into the faintest sneer, and Zhane had had enough.

"We have a new crew member," he said loudly. "You wouldn't welcome her."

"Zhane," Andros snapped sharply, as Tan raised one eyebrow questioningly.

"Who is she that we wouldn't welcome her?"

"My sister," Andros replied coolly. "You know her as Astronema."

Shock registered clearly on the Eltaran's face before he masked it with incredulity. "You've made Astronema your shipmate?"

"Yes," Andros said simply.

Disbelief yielded to fury. "Did you invite Darkonda onto your ship, too?"

"I--" Andros changed directions abruptly, his tone cold and curt. "We'll keep you informed of our progress."

Deca cut the transmission without orders, and the tension in Andros's back melted away visibly. His face was dark as he whirled around towards Zhane, but his shoulders slumped as he let out a soft sigh.

"I don't suppose that would have gone any better in person," he muttered, and Zhane let himself relax.

"Sorry," he offered sheepishly. "I just don't like that guy."

An almost amused smile tugged at Andros's lips. It was gone a moment later, and the Red Ranger let out a heavy sigh. "I'm going to go talk to Karone. Maybe she'll want to..."

His voice trailed off, and he shrugged. "I'll just try to talk to her."

Guilt that he couldn't ignore pricked at Zhane's conscience. "See if she wants to see Angel Grove," he suggested. "I think she'd like it."

Andros smiled a little, but it faded as he left the Bridge. Zhane sighed as he watched him go, unable to help laughing nervously as the other Rangers fixed their eyes on him. "What?"

"What's wrong with that guy?" Carlos demanded. "What did Andros do to him?"

"It is rather... complicated," Phantom Ranger offered as he demorphed. "I'm fairly confident that there is only one man Tan would deem an... appropriate Red Ranger."

"I'm going to guess that Andros isn't that one guy," TJ said, and Zhane shook his head.

"You know who Eiran was?" he questioned, and they nodded. "That guy. He and Aileana were cousins of Tan's. Or second cousins, I forget which. Eiran and his father died trying to escape Viton and Andros got away... Let's just say they've never taken to each other."

"Oh." Ashley crossed her arms over her chest, glancing back towards the viewing screen as though she expected Tan to still be there watching them. "Is he going to be all right?"

"Yeah." Zhane smiled at her reassuringly. "He'll be fine, Ash."


"Can I come in?" Andros stood still in her doorway, his eyes cast down towards the floor.

"Sure." She watched him through narrowed eyes. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," he replied, not quite meeting her eyes. "I'm just... We're doing the best that we can, and if that isn't good enough for the Eltarans, I wish they'd do something about it themselves."

"Oh." She just stared at him for a moment, watching him let out a deep breath after venting. "If it makes you feel any better, I know how you feel. Dark Spectre couldn't possibly make a mistake."

Andros laughed dryly, and stepped closer to her. "Would you like to get out of here for a little while?" he offered hesitantly. "I could show you around Angel Grove."

"I've seen a lot of it already," Astronema informed him, feeling a twinge of guilt when his face fell. "Besides, aren't I confined to the Megaship?"

"I guess so," he admitted reluctantly. "Is there anything you'd like to do instead?"

"Not really." She sighed and rearranged her legs more comfortably. "Look, you don't have to be here. Go have fun with your girlfriend."

"You're my sister," Andros said forcefully, a wounded look on his face as he stared at her. "I've spent almost my entire life wondering what happened to you. I want to be here with you."

She was beginning to believe him. Astronema wasn't sure whether that should make her uneasy or not. "Andros..."

It took her several minutes to decide how to continue. "You asked me if I trusted you," she said slowly. "I don't know yet. It's only been a few days that I've been here. That's not long enough to undo everything I've believed my entire life."

"Right." He nodded his head slowly, letting out a deep breath. "We've got all the time in the world now," he told her with a small smile. "I'll wait."

She could tell that she'd hurt him. Astronema felt a twinge of guilt and pushed it away quickly. It was completely unreasonable of him to expect that she could just become the Karone that he thought he knew.

"Tell me again," she said suddenly. "What were your--our--parents like?"

His memories were clearer than her hazy dream images, but as he talked she thought they became a little clearer. Andros smiled a little as he talked, though his eyes were sad. She just listened, praying that just maybe she would find her answers here.


"You busy?"

Ashley looked up when Zhane popped up out of nowhere. "Not really."

"Good." He grinned at her. "Andros is with Astronema, and I'm bored. Go somewhere with me?"

"Um... sure." She gulped down the last of her juice and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "Where?"

"Wherever." He shrugged his shoulders and leaned over to steal a slice of apple from her plate. "These are good. What are they called?"

"Apples." She laughed when he grabbed another one, shoving the last one into her mouth before he could take it. "Where do you want to go?"

"Simudeck," he said after a pause. "Swimming sound good?"

"I'll meet you there," she agreed, and hurried to her room to change. Zhane had already started up a program when she arrived, and she paused for a moment, just staring at the place she found herself in. "Wow."

"I'll show you the real one sometime," Zhane remarked, following her amazed stare. "It's where I learned to swim back home."

"It's beautiful," she breathed, drinking in the natural beauty all around her. The grass beneath her feet was soft and a brilliant green, the pool of clear water that Zhane stood waist-deep in appearing almost out of nowhere.

She paused at the edge of the grass and then just jumped in, yelping in shock at the cold chill of the water. Zhane splashed her with a laugh, and she glared at him.

"It's freezing!" she exclaimed. "How can you stand it?"

"Give it a few minutes." He shrugged his shoulders while she hugged her arms to her chest and shivered. "You'll warm up."

She stuck her tongue out at him, admitting to herself reluctantly that her body was already adjusting to the temperature. Zhane grinned and dunked his head beneath the water, floating over towards her.

"So," he began casually, "how was your date?"

She smiled and shook her head. Andros had told her already how Zhane had tried to work the details of the night before out of him. "You'll have to do better than that."

"Aww, come on," he whined. "What's the big secret?"

Ashley rolled her eyes. "I don't kiss and tell."

He smirked. "So you did kiss him, then?"

She hadn't meant to say that. Ashley glared at him and sighed. "Yes, we kissed. Happy?"

"Tell me what happened and I'll tell you one of my stories," he offered, and she splashed him.

"Why do you care so much?" she demanded, and then reconsidered. "Fine. You go first."

"Hmm..." Zhane slid smoothly beneath the water and flipped himself around. "It took him forever to get the hang of his glider," he told her when he emerged. "He had a horrible sense of balance. And of right and left. And sometimes of up and down."

Ashley couldn't help giggling. "Seriously?"

"Would I lie to you?" He smirked when she considered that for a few moments. "For awhile, he'd fall on his face while the thing was still."

She bit her lip to keep from smiling too much. "I can't see it," she complained. "He's so..."

"He's not really the same person," Zhane agreed. "But it's a true story."

"What was he like then?" she asked curiously.

Zhane swam past her on his back. "Your turn."

Ashley rolled her eyes and realized that she wasn't cold anymore. "Nothing happened," she told him, as she stepped towards the deeper water. "He was a little nervous, but it was fine. He can't use chopsticks," she added with a grin. "It's cute."

"You're lying." Zhane narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "How bad was it really?"

"It wasn't bad," Ashley said firmly. "I had fun."

He grumbled something under his breath, and she grinned to herself. She wasn't planning on telling a soul how awkward that date had really been--though she had no qualms about teasing Andros every now and then.

"What was he like?" she asked Zhane again. She rolled onto her back with a sigh, cool water flowing across her neck. "Totally different?"

"Yeah." The Silver Ranger shook water out of his face, studying her thoughtfully. "The reasons why only Andros has the right to tell you," he said finally.

"Most of it I don't know for sure, anyway. Lucky guess," he muttered darkly.

Ashley bit her lip as she nodded, uneasy as she flipped over onto her front. She really didn't like the sound of that, but Zhane was right. She shouldn't be digging around into Andros's life anymore than Zhane should be betraying his best friend by telling her.

"I'm not meaning to pry," she said abruptly, and straightened up, treading water. "I just want to... know him."

"He'll tell you when he's ready," Zhane said softly. "But when he does, don't try to fix it--because you can't."

His blue eyes blazed into hers determinedly, refusing to let her look away. Ashley held his gaze for what felt like forever, as her eyes dropped back down wondering if he'd brought her here just to say that. Slowly, she nodded her head, sighing as she stared into the water.

"I won't ask him anything, then," she murmured softly, surprised when Zhane shook his head at her.

"I didn't mean that," he said quickly. "Just that you can't make it okay."

"Oh." Ashley wasn't quite sure how to answer that. Tentatively, she asked, "Is that what you tried to do, then?"

"At first." Zhane ran a hand through his hair, frowning at some memory. "We all did..."

"Your team?" she ventured, not quite sure who he meant.

He nodded. "Things might not have been so bad if we'd handled that better," he sighed. "But Andros wound up very... distrustful of Reya, and Aerynn and Leyton were too much like her."

"Oh," she said again, hardly noticing when he dumped a handful of water on her head.

"I'm not trying to discourage you," he added. "I'm just saying that it's not easy to watch someone you love hurt and not be able to take it away."

"I'll remember that," Ashley said softly, suddenly feeling like she could cry. Impulsively, she swam forward to hug him, sliding her arms around his neck to squeeze him hard. "Thanks."

"He's my brother," Zhane told her seriously.

"I know," she murmured, and grinned suddenly. "Have you told him you're dating his sister yet?"

Zhane shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not exactly dating her..."

"That's a no, then?"

"I'm still deciding the best way to tell him," he muttered. "I'm thinking me on the Megaship and him back on KO-35."

Ashley rolled her eyes. "How do you know he won't be fine with it?"

"Because he's got eleven years worth of overprotective big brother urges to use up," he retorted. "Maybe we'll get married and just let him assume that we like each other."

"You're crazy." She couldn't help giggling when he splashed water at her, kicking her feet to send a spray of water towards him.

"Hey!" he sputtered. "What was that for?"

"You know you deserved it," another voice broke in, and Ashley whirled around to see Andros staring down at them, Astronema standing at his side. "What are you doing?"

"Swimming, what does it look like?" Ashley swam a little closer to the sides. "Come on, join us."

"That's all right," Andros said quickly, but Astronema gave her a curious stare.

"Is that what you're supposed to wear for this?"

"I guess so..." Ashley glanced down at her two-piece swimsuit with a frown. "A lot of swimsuits are just one piece, if you'd like that better," she added.

Astronema stared at her hard for a moment before glancing down at herself. Ashley blinked in surprise as the other girl was suddenly wearing a matching suit, with the notable exception of color--Ashley wore yellow and Astronema's suit was a pale lavender.

"You sure you don't want to jump in?" She shot Andros a pleading look as Astronema dipped a careful toe in the water. "You can swim, can't you?"

"I'd rather not," he muttered, and took a seat next to Astronema, who had seemingly decided that she preferred dangling her legs into the pool to actually swimming.

"Please?" She pouted at him, but he shook his head quickly.

"You really should get in here," Zhane spoke up, smirking at Andros. "You owe her for being too nice to tell me what really happened last night."

"Shut up." Andros glared at him, but Ashley didn't miss his rather obvious look of relief.

His back to Andros, Zhane winked at her. Ashley hid a smile as the Silver Ranger edged closer to the edge of the pool. Suspicion didn't cross Andros's face until Zhane had a firm grasp on his hand. Laughing, Ashley jumped forward as her boyfriend tumbled into the water, throwing her arms around his neck as he straightened up.

"Hi," she murmured, kissing him on the cheek. "I missed you."

The murderous glare Andros had trained firmly on Zhane faded slightly, a reluctant smile replacing it. "Hi," he said quietly, pushing his drenched hair out of his eyes.

"You're not blond anymore," she noted with a disappointed pout, toying gently with the ends of his hair. "You're cute with your stripes."

He laughed, looking at her with a hint of surprise written across his face. "You really think so?"

"Of course I do." She had to laugh when he couldn't keep his hair in one place, reaching up to pull the elastic out of her hair. "Here."

"Sweet enough to make you sick," Zhane commented loudly to Astronema, who just sat there watching them all in amusement.

Andros glowered at him, and Ashley grinned as Zhane quickly retreated to the other end of the pool. There was no mistaking the very vengeful gleam in her boyfriend's eyes as he took a few steps closer to the cornered Silver Ranger. Ashley laughed at the look on Zhane's face, and settled back to enjoy a highly entertaining sparring match.