Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

... surprise? *grins wryly* But I'm getting there!

I know it's a short one, but I didn't want to go straight into CtD from here.

And because I have no sense at all, would anyone be interested in a giant fandom project to fix all the plotholes and/or rewrite seventeen years worth of canon? (This was totally Tsukino Akume's idea, if you were curious.)

Chapter 40

Andros was still asleep when she slid out of his bed. Ashley eased herself off of the mattress slowly, draping the blankets back over him. She paused, halfway to the door, and looked back at him. The lights were so low she could hardly see him at all, but rarely did he look half as peaceful as he did now.

She shouldn't wake him. Deca would tell him where she'd gone, if he couldn't guess himself.

Her bare feet padded quietly against the deck as she stepped out into the corridor. She shivered, realizing that she'd left her shoes by Andros's bed, but she wasn't going to go back for them now. He'd wake up, and she wasn't sure she wanted to speak to him right now.

She wasn't sure she wanted to speak to anyone else right now, either, but she couldn't wait any longer. She had to know.

She showered first, buying herself a few more moments to think about what she would say.

It didn't help much. She still didn't know what to say or do, and by the time her hair was dry and she'd dressed, she'd run out of reasons to stall.

Ashley swallowed as she slipped her morpher back onto her wrist. Andros had offered to go with her, but she knew that he didn't really want to, and she had a feeling his presence would only make things worse, anyway. Besides, this was her family.

The morning was still cool as Angel Grove materialized around her. For an instant she contemplated going back for a sweater, but she just bit her lip and started up the driveway.

At the front door she hesitated again, her hand on the knob.

The door opened from the other side and she tensed, taking a step back before she realized what she was doing. She bit her lip and stayed where she was, her heart somewhere in her throat as she met her father's eyes.

Ashley swallowed. "Dad," she whispered. "I--"

She choked, the lump in her throat too large now.

"Ashley." He stopped with his hand extended toward her, watching her as uncertainly as she felt. "Come in."

She made it three steps into the hall before her tears started to fall, and this time when he reached out for her, Ashley threw her arms around her father and cried.


"Leave me alone." Andros squinted against the sudden brightness when Deca turned up the lights with no warning before turning onto his stomach and burying his face into his pillow.

"It's time to wake up, Andros," she repeated for what had to be the twentieth time, calm as ever.

"I'm awake." He drew the blanket up over his head and stretched out until he was comfortable. Ashley, he thought, flexing his shoulders with a groan. The Megaship beds weren't really meant to hold more than one person at a time.

"It's time to wake up, Andros."

This time, he pushed the blanket back and raised his head to glare at her. "I'm awake," he insisted. "How long ago did Ashley leave?"

"Approximately half an hour ago," she replied.

Andros rolled onto his back with a sigh. He opened his mouth to ask how she'd been, and then changed his mind. He'd ignored Deca for at least ten minutes--all he'd get now was a detailed report about whether or not Ashley's digestive system was functioning.

"Thanks," he said instead, closing his eyes again.

"Sit up, Andros."

"I'm not sleeping." He'd had a hard enough time last night, when he'd been exhausted and Ashley had been curled up at his side. He didn't think he could manage it now, with the lights turned up to full strength and Deca talking at him.

Especially not after the dreams he'd had. He frowned, opening his eyes again.

"Are you not feeling well, Andros?" Her voice had softened some; she sounded concerned more than anything else now. "I can--"

"I'm fine, Deca," he said, rubbing his eyes with one hand. "I didn't sleep well. That's all."

"Nightmares?" she questioned, and he shook his head.

"Just strange." Andros yawned, stretching his arms over his head. "I can't even remem--wait," he said suddenly, pushing himself up in bed. "Deca."

"Yes, Andros?"

He contemplated her nearest eye silently. She had kept him sane, kept him alive more than he wanted to admit, and he wondered what he'd do now if... He swallowed. "I have a question for you."

"Yes, Andros?"

Andros closed his eyes briefly. "Did you wipe my memory?"

She was silent for several minutes. He didn't look away. "I'm curious," she said finally, quietly. "Why do you ask?"

He swallowed back a frustrated growl. "Because there are things I don't remember."

"And you believe that I am capable of doing so?"

"Yeah," he said. "If you'd wanted it done, you'd have found a way. You always did."

"I suppose I could interpret that to be complimentary," she remarked, sounding almost thoughtful. "However, I never requested, supported, or facilitated any modification of your memory."

Andros let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Did anyone?"

"That I cannot tell you." Deca blinked at him once. "If it was done, I have no knowledge of the procedure."

Not entirely reassured, he glanced away. "What do you think?"

"What do you think, Andros?" Her voice was gentle now, and he frowned at her in irritation.

"I hadn't thought about it until last night," he told her. "When Ashley asked." He had a vague impression of a crowded, silent room, and closed his eyes. "They wanted to know if I was telling the truth about Eiran. I remember they gave me something to make me sleep."
"It's possible," she said, but he could hear the doubt.

"You don't think it happened," he said.

"No."

He wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or relieved. "Thanks, Deca," he muttered, leaning his head back against the wall, eyes closed.

"You're welcome, Andros."

She sounded sincere, but he cracked one eye open suspiciously. "You're not angry, are you?"

She blinked at him. "No."

He wasn't sure that he'd be eating what he wanted for breakfast, but Andros nodded and smiled a little. He hoped she was right.

"Andros," she said, and something in her voice made him tense instantly. "You're needed on the bridge."


Beautiful.

She straightened her shoulders as she watched the first wing of velocifighters swing past on the view screen. There were a thousand more.

The Rangers wouldn't know what had hit them.

"Astronema."

She passed a hand over her forehead. "What do you want?"

"Karone," Zordon said evenly.

"You can't stop me." She narrowed her eyes as she turned to regard him coldly. "You're almost out of energy."

And he wasn't the only one. She stopped herself before she could call to the Psychos. She'd given them their mission, and they would follow it.

All she had to do now was wait.

"You can stop this, Karone."

She sighed. "I should put you out of your misery," she muttered, but not even Zordon of Eltare would spoil her victory.