Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Notes: I'm back! Sorry about the wait--first there was school and then I couldn't remember what the heck I was doing, writing all of these stories. But my inspiration is back, and it'll hopefully stick around for awhile. :crosses fingers:

This story was posted in October of 2006, but I wrote the first scenes in the spring of that year. (These were really dark moments that haven't yet made it into the posted story, and probably never will be, but they were a great way to unstressify myself the semester I was taking statistics.) At the same time, some of the wonderful friends I've made through fandom and I were bouncing ideas back and forth between each other. The idea that makes up the last arc of the story came from AH/AY. I'd planned at one point to make it a separate story all on its own, but when I realized that I'd be writing almost the same story twice, I decided to throw them together and hope for the best. I'm actually a bit skeptical about it now, but it's been referenced briefly in passing earlier in the story and also, I'm curious to see what happens when my story does something vaguely resembling what it was supposed to do.

So, once again, thank you for sticking with me and this story for so long, and here we go...

Chapter 36

"Andros."

"It's good to hear from you again, Arietis," Andros said, frowning as he studied the Phantom Ranger's troubled expression. "What is it?"

"Tracking Zordon led me back to Onyx," Arietis told him. Andros watched his gaze shift towards Ashley before coming back to meet his own. "The man seated next to me at the bar looked vaguely familiar, I thought, but I couldn't recognize him until he and his son attacked Darkonda."

"Darkonda?" Ashley's hand brushed his, and Andros tried to relax. "What was he doing there?"

"Darkonda is not important now," Arietis said. "These men are."

He stopped, hesitating, and Andros sighed. "Who are they?"

"You will find this hard to believe," Arietis said. "They've been thought dead for six years, but you... were familiar with them."

Six years ago he'd been a child slave on a world that saw nothing wrong with that. A sick feeling slowly started to spread through his stomach. "Who?" he repeated quietly.

"Karovans," Arietis told him. "Val and his son Eiran."

"But--" Andros shook his head, disbelieving. "Their shuttle was shot down. I saw them crash back to Viton."

Arietis nodded. "I'm not disputing that, and neither are they--but we've run every test on them that the Aquitians are capable of running, and the results have been conclusive every time. These men are Val and Eiran of KO-35."

Impossible. No matter how he repeated the words to himself, Andros couldn't think of a way that they could have survived. "The shuttle caught fire."

"So they told me." Arietis inclined his head to Andros, but he was certain. "We have no doubts as to their identity, only many questions."

"Yes," Andros said slowly. He had many questions for them himself. "Where are they now?"

"They each had some food, and the Aquitians have provided them each with a room for the night. They offered to accommodate them longer, but I'll be escorting them to the Megaship in the morning, with your permission. I believe it would be in your best interest to allow this, Andros," he added, when Andros opened his mouth to protest. "Your team should speak with them before the Eltarans do."

"Why?" he demanded. "You've given me no reason why I should allow them onboard with so little information, and my own personal experience with them leads me to believe that our team is better off without them here."

"I have some... suspicions about them," Arietis admitted. "I would like them confirmed."

"What sort of suspicions?" Andros watched the Phantom Ranger warily. "There's something you haven't told me."

"Yes." He nodded. "But I won't discuss it until I'm certain that I'm right. I see no need to complicate multiple lives needlessly."

"We don't just live here," Andros reminded him, frowning. "The Megaship is a weapon that we can't afford to lose, especially not now. We've had multiple battles with Astronema's Psycho Rangers now, and I can't see that they've been affected at all. I won't risk the Megaship."

"They have information for you," Arietis told him. "They've spent enough time on Onyx to have picked up three or four likely locations where Dark Spectre is holding Zordon."

"You should have mentioned that before." Andros frowned. "They could tell you just as easily as they could me, and I want to know why two escaped slaves everyone thought were dead for six years were in Onyx Tavern."

"They weren't able to find a way to travel home without arousing suspicion."

"KO-35--"

"They were going to Earth."

"They... were?" Andros couldn't think of a response to that.

"Why Earth?" Ashley had been standing off to the side, letting him speak, but now she looked at Arietis curiously.

"Their family spent several years in hiding on Earth," Arietis said. He was still watching Andros. "As far as they know, their relatives are still there."

"They've been on Earth all this time?" Andros demanded, not giving Ashley a chance to respond. "Why couldn't I find them?"

"They didn't want to be found." Arietis gave him a look that Andros couldn't quite figure out. "We'll be there tomorrow morning. Your team needs to meet with them."

"We'll meet with them," Andros relented, sighing. He pressed his lips into a thin line. "I want them empty handed and weaponless."

"Of course. I accept full responsibility for them while they're on the Megaship," Arietis added. "They'll do you no harm."

They already had, and Andros tried not to sigh again. "We'll be expecting you."

"Hey." Ashley's hand was on his arm the instant he cut the connection with Arietis, gently prodding him to face her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm... fine," he said slowly. He ran his fingers through his hair, staring at her face as he tried to think. "I--I just... I didn't expect this. I thought..."

"You were twelve," she said. She looked worried now, and he couldn't figure out why. "You were just a kid."

"I know." He did know that. "I thought they were dead, Ash." He'd never wondered if they could have survived the crash. The shuttle had had just scraps for armor, and the patrol crafts had all been armed...

Ashley squeezed his arm when he sighed. "You told me that they tried to kill you."

"Yeah." Andros shook his head as he sat down in his seat, frowning at her. "They did. Val did."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. She was standing beside him now, her fingers in his hair, and he tilted his head against the seat.

"Me too." He closed his eyes as she leaned across the back of his seat to wrap her arms around his neck, reaching up to grasp her fingers. "Thanks."

Her chin bumped the top of his head, and he smiled when she hugged him a little harder. "I love you, Andros."

"I love you too." He felt her kiss the top of his head, and tilted his head back to look at her. "I'm all right, Ash."

"I know," she murmured. Her hair fell across his face, tickling his cheeks, and she kissed his forehead lightly. "What are you going to do?"

He twisted around to look at her. "What do you mean?"

"Arietis bringing them here." Ashley bit her lip as she watched him. "Are you really okay with that?"

No. Andros hesitated, sighing. "I'm not sure."

"This is your home," she reminded him. "You don't have to share it with anyone you don't want to."

"I don't know that I have a choice," he said, thinking. If what Arietis said was true, if Val and Eiran knew where Zordon was, and he didn't listen... He'd made too many mistakes already. "I'll listen to what they have to say."

"I guess you're right." Ashley sighed. "I know you're right."

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He'd listen to what they had to tell him, and then they'd leave the Megaship. If he needed to speak with them afterwards, it would be on his terms.

But that didn't change the fact that they'd tried to kill him to save themselves.

Andros let out a deep breath. He understood why, but it didn't quite make him eager to meet with them. "They'll be here in the morning."

She sighed, too, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "Exciting day," she remarked as she straightened up again.

"I guess so," he murmured, reaching for her hands. Between this and her being kidnapped by the Psycho Rangers, Andros wouldn't have minded if the day had been a little duller.

He watched her twine her fingers through his, and gave her arms a gentle tug to pull her closer. "You really should rest, you know."

"I'm not tired," she murmured.

"I don't care." She was close enough to wrap his arms around, and he stood up to hold her tight. "I'm glad you're safe."

"Andros," she protested quietly, but she didn't let go of him. She giggled quietly a moment later, warning him, "You're going to make me cry again."

He let her go with a sigh, and she smiled. "Walk with me?"

Ashley gave his hand a tug when he nodded. Frowning to himself when she headed in the exact opposite direction of the bedrooms, he said nothing. She would be fine if she wasn't already, she didn't need him worrying over, but--he couldn't help wanting to never let her out of his sight.

He looked at her, surprised, when she stopped walking. "Why here?"

"I told you, I'm not tired." Ashley leaned close and kissed him, smiling against his mouth. "And I think it's romantic."

She pulled away before he could kiss her again, stepping backwards into the Observatory. His hand was still in hers, and she squeezed his fingers when he followed her.

Andros looked at her curiously when she asked Deca to give them some privacy. When she reached around him to lock the doors it clicked for him, and he caught her eye.

"Ash--"

"We don't have to do anything," she said quickly. "But I want to be alone with you, and I've wanted to be out here with you for the longest time."

Andros shook his head, just watching her for a minute. She stared back at him, beautiful and alive, and he smiled slowly. "You look pretty in the starlight."

"So do you." She giggled at him softly, smiling. "Andros..."

He kissed her before she could say anything else. He heard her make a quiet noise of surprise, but she didn't push him away, and then she was kissing him back in a way that made him feel his heartbeat in his ears.

"Ash--" He started to say something, but forgot it when her mouth covered his again.

"Just kiss me," she whispered.

He did.


Ashley just watched him for awhile. The starlight shone on his face as he lay there, eyes closed but not sleeping. He could have been; his breathing was steady now and he was settled comfortably beneath the blankets they'd found, but he smiled faintly when she touched his cheek.

"Hey," she murmured, laying her head on his arm, "open your eyes."

She smiled up at him when he did, kissing his shoulder. Content, she just lay there with him for awhile before she asked the question that was on her mind. "What do you want?"

He looked at her, and she elaborated. "In the future, I mean. What do you want your life to be like?"

"KO-35." His answer, though soft, was immediate. Nowhere else would ever be home to him. Ashley swallowed as the realization hit her, knowing that she could never ask him to stay with her.

"Karone," he continued quietly, unaware of her thoughts. "That was all I used to want--that I'd find Karone and that Zhane would wake up, and someday we'd all go home. And now..."

He stopped.

"Now what?" she finally asked after minutes ticked by in silence. "You can tell me."

It was another long moment before he answered. "Now I want you, too."

"You have me," she murmured. Ashley didn't know what else there was to say to that.

"Ash?" He started to sit up, and she looked away before he could see her face. "Is something wrong?"

"No," she whispered. "Nothing's wrong."

"Something's wrong." Frowning, he turned over onto his side to face her. "What is it?"

Ashley touched his hand without answering. She watched him watch her silently as she ran her fingers along his bare arms, sighing as she did so. "It's just that... well... KO-35 is your home, and it's not mine."

He didn't answer her for a minute. "Are you sure?"

"About what?"

"That KO-35 could never be your home," he said quietly.

Ashley's eyes widened in surprise. "But--"

"I'm not asking you to," he said quickly. Andros paused. "Unless you want me to."

She couldn't help her smile. Ashley rolled onto her side, catching her breath as she felt his skin move against hers. "Andros..."

"I want to be with you," he said quietly. "That's all I want."

"Me too," Ashley whispered.

She shifted closer to slide one arm over him, squeezing tight. Andros stroked her hair gently, his fingers warm when they touched her skin. Head tucked against his shoulder, Ashley closed her eyes.

"I want to get married one day," she told him. She frowned suddenly, realizing that she had no idea how Karovan marriage worked. "I want kids, Andros."

"I..." He hesitated. "I've never thought much about it."

"Oh." Ashley opened her eyes. "Well... do you want to think about it now?"

She bit her lip as she waited for him to answer, wondering what she'd do if he said no. She didn't want to lose him--but if they wanted different things, she didn't know how they wouldn't fall apart.

"Yeah," he said softly, "I will." His fingers brushed her cheek, and he smiled. "I--I think you'd like the Karovan ceremony. You can have sunflowers everywhere, if you'd like."

Her mind flashed back to the bouquet he'd given her on their second date. "You remembered," she murmured.

"Of course I did." Andros looked at her, amused. "You remind me of them."

Ashley felt herself blush when he wouldn't look away, but she couldn't make her smile disappear. She caught his hand, squeezing his fingers hard and hoping that, just maybe, they would make it, after all.

"So," she said, "tell me about a Karovan wedding."

"Well..."

Ashley didn't know how long it was that they stayed there in the Observatory. They talked until Deca interrupted to inform them that Arietis was half an hour away. By that time, her eyelids were drooping and her throat was hoarse, and it must have been morning.

With a sigh, Andros sat up. He was gorgeous, and she lay there lazily a moment longer, watching him dress. It was only when he stood to go that she sat up and dressed hastily.

"Do you mind if I meet them with you?"

"You can if you want to." Andros passed a hand over his eyes, yawning. "I'm going to go shower."

"Meet you on the Bridge?"

"Deca will teleport them from Arietis's ship," he said, nodding. "I'll see you there."

"Hey." She caught his hand before he could leave. When he turned toward her, she leaned in and pressed her mouth to his softly, murmuring, "I love you."

"I love you too, Ash," he said quietly, and squeezed her fingers hard.

She went to shower and change with a smile on her face. Andros was already on the Bridge when she arrived, and she paused just outside to watch him. He certainly didn't look pleased. He didn't look upset, either, but if anyone could hide their emotions it would be Andros.

These people had tried to kill him once.

Ashley bit her lip. "Hey," she said quietly. "Are they here yet?"

"Hi." His voice was tense and no louder than hers, but he smiled faintly at her. "Almost."

They waited in a silence broken only by Andros drumming his fingertips against the back of his seat. Ashley bit her lip to keep from saying anything, and after awhile, she hardly noticed the sound. She did notice when he stopped, and turned to see him staring at Deca's nearest eye.

"They're here?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Andros let out a deep breath. He straightened up, nodding his head. "Let them in."

Ashley caught herself just before she reached for his hand. Instead, she stood close to his side and waited. She'd never seen anyone teleport that wasn't a Ranger, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw two flashes of red.

Andros's color.

It was a funny thing to be annoyed about when these people had almost killed him, but she folded her arms and watched the sparkles fade away while her dislike of them grew.

One of them was supposed to be Red, she remembered suddenly. Andros had told her that--that he'd gotten his morpher because the Red Ranger had been presumed dead. Well, Andros was Red now, and Ashley inched closer to him protectively. It accomplished nothing but making her feel better, and that was enough.

"Val." Andros spoke tersely, nodding once. "Eiran."

His smile was thin as he added, "It is good to see you again, Arietis."

"And you, Andros." The Phantom Ranger's smile was warmer. "Do you wish to speak privately?"

"This meeting was your idea," Andros said, in a tone that left no room for argument. "I'd rather that you stayed."

"As you wish." Arietis looked distinctly uncomfortable as he nodded to her, and Ashley frowned. Not that she could blame him...

"Andros." The younger of the two men spoke first, hesitating. "Thank you for meeting with us."

Ashley studied him in the tense silence that followed. He and his father both were tall and thin--too thin, really. Ashley felt a twinge of pity for them. Both of them were bitter and exhausted, and she couldn't even blame them for that after the little that Andros had told her.

"Arietis told me that you have information about Zordon."

"We do," the father answered. Val, she remembered his name was. "We've spent much of the last year on Onyx. We've heard many things."

Her stomach twisted in unease. There was something very... familiar about this man's voice. She looked at him more closely, seeing nothing extraordinary about him--only brown hair and dark eyes, but still... Something nagged at her, and she almost missed Andros speaking.

"What have you heard, Val?"

"If I could ask just one favor of you," Val said, "I lived on Earth for a very long time, and I have no intentions of leaving it again. So please, call me Daniel."

It clicked then, and Ashley felt chills run down her arms. She stared openmouthed at both of them, unable to make a sound. Andros's voice flowed over her head, but she had no idea what he was saying and didn't care.

Andros's hand on her arm startled her out of her shock. She shook her head when he started to speak, finding her voice again. "I'm fine," she managed. "But--it's just that--but--" Her eyes slid past him to Daniel. "Dad?!"