AN: Recently, I've been seeing a lot more PRIS fics on this site, which I think is wonderful. To all other authors out there, keep up the good work.
Once a Ranger
Chapter 4: Silver to the Rescue
By Daylight
It was the extreme feeling of adrenaline-pumping alarm crashing into Zhane's skull that caused him to lose his grip on the micro-welder, letting it fall. The impact of the device against the metal floor rang loudly throughout the empty cargo bay reverberating off the high ceiling. The silver ranger jumped to his feet as the image of the Red Astro Ranger tumbling through space flashed in front of his wide eyes. While he watched, a large presence overshadowed the figure, the dark, cratered surface of an asteroid.
"Andros!"
The image faded, but the sudden wave of pain that followed left him staggering.
Then there was nothing.
Breathing heavily, he leaned against a nearby piece of equipment as he tried to regain his bearings, the intense feelings still swirling through his head and chest.
"No."
Without thinking, he dashed out of the room his feet slamming loudly against the ground.
"No. Damn it. No!"
He cursed himself as he sped along the corridors of the building. He should have stayed with the other rangers. He should have known something like this would happen. Why was he never around when Andros needed him?
Another violent swing round a corner caused him to almost crash into an oblivious bystander also trying to navigate the hallways. Zhane's sudden halt forced him to careen backwards, but a hand stopped him from falling.
"Zhane, I presume there is a good reason for you to be travelling at such a pace."
"Councillor Taikwa! I… Andros… I have to…" Steadying his breaths, he managed to pull his thoughts in order. "Have you seen Karone?"
"She left last night," replied the councillor, her face drawn in concern. "I thought you knew."
"What?"
"She took one of the scout ships. I believe she said something about needing some time away."
"But…she…" Zhane was once more left reeling. Why would Karone take off without telling him? Unless… she was pulling an Andros.
"Those two are too alike for their own good."
Taikwa merely raised an eyebrow.
With both siblings missing, Zhane was left with the difficult choice of which to go after, but as much as he cared for the former princess of evil, Andros was the one he knew was in danger. Karone would have to take care of herself. He just hoped she wouldn't get herself killed doing it. "Listen, I need to take the MegaWinger. Andros needs me. Don't worry I'll be back soon." His last words trailed away as he once more raced off, leaving Taikwa behind shaking her head.
ooooo
The great expanse of space lends little to searchers who don't happen to have an intergalactic scanner handy. Unfortunately, Zhane didn't. Fortunately, he wasn't searching blindly. He knew the rangers had been heading for Earth though he hadn't yet heard of their detour. So, he started from there. His other clue, the asteroid, wasn't much use considering the numerous amounts in Earth's solar system alone. With these thoughts in mind, he followed a standard search pattern in the MegaWinger hoping to get close enough to detect the Andros' morpher.
"Come on. Come on." The silver ranger sat unmorphed at the front of the bridge eyes fixed desperately on the flickering scanner screen. Finally, after hours of fruitless scanning, the console let out a mechanical beep as four lights began to flash. It had found something, but not what he been hoping for. Steering the ship closer, he drew it to a stop as four galaxy gliders drifted past his viewscreen, the red one conspicuously absent.
Zhane leaned his head against his hand, rubbing wearily at his forehead. So, the others hadn't been any luckier than Andros. What could have happened to them? Another beep brought him back. The sensors had finally detected the red galaxy glider…and Andros' morpher. Zhane's hands were immediately on the controls guiding the ship towards the asteroid field.
All asteroids tend to look alike, large pocketed chunks of rock, and the one Zhane's scanners led him to was no exception. Having landed the Winger on the surface, Zhane grabbed his digimorpher and morphed, too occupied to even contemplate the fact that it was the first time in almost a year. The silver ranger soared out the cargo bay doors and careened across the surface on his silver cycle leaving a trail of dust behind him.
The silver ranger saw him first at a distance, a blur of red against the grey background. As he got closer, he began to see scattered mechanical debris around him, the red metal signifying precisely what it was from. When he finally could see Andros clearly, his relief promptly turned to alarm as he realized the red ranger lay unmorphed in the atmosphereless void.
"Andros!"
As he reached him, Zhane tossed the bike aside falling to his knees in the dirt beside his friend. It wasn't until he saw Andros' chest rise and fall that he let out the breath he had been holding. Looking at a large chunk of galaxy glider nearby, he realized the atmospheric generator must still be working, and probably the only thing that would considering the state of the glider.
The bloody gash on Andros head spoke of an obvious head wound, and Zhane didn't like the look of his left wrist. The Silver Astro Ranger passed his Amscanner over the crumpled body of his best friend, but it couldn't tell him much more than the fact he was alive and his condition was shocky. Zhane needed to get him back to the MegaWinger.
Observing the pained expression on the unconscious red ranger, Zhane sighed. "What have you gotten yourself into now?"
The silver ranger carefully scooped his friend into his arms and held him close as he slowly returned to the MegaWinger.
ooooo
As Andros opened his eyes, he was greeted by the image of a blurry, metal ceiling. He blinked and as his eyes finally began to focus so did his ears as a voice could be heard from somewhere beside him.
"Some giant ugly looking bruises, numerous small abrasions, a sprained left knee which the power should heal up fast, a broken left wrist which it won't and a fairly bad concussion."
While he listened to the list, Andros' mind began to clear, and then he remembered. He tried to sit up, but soon found it was a bad idea as a sharp paralyzing pain shot through him. Hands gently lowered him back down, as he gasped for air against the painful pressure in his chest suddenly aware of all the injuries the voice had made him aware of.
"Did I forget to mention broken ribs again? What's this the fourth or fifth time?"
Swallowing against his dry throat, Andros responded with a rough whisper. "Broken three times. Cracked twice." He looked over to see Zhane sitting beside him, his hair more mussed up than usual, bags under his eyes, and a broad grin across his face. "Zhane," Andros managed to say in a tone both relieved and aggravated.
"I'd ask how you feel but I think I can guess."
"I'm fine."
The silver crossed his arms over his chest. "You'd say you're fine if you had a metal pole through your leg. In fact, you did."
"Are the others okay?" When Zhane didn't respond right away, Andros glanced over at his friend. "What?"
Zhane bit his lip. "I looked everywhere, but all I could find were their galaxy gliders."
Placing his hands over his face, Andros asked, "How long?"
"Two days."
"They've been missing for two days!" Blood pumping, Andros struggled to get up, but once again failed. He lay back exhausted. Through the turmoil of emotions, something tickled the back of his mind as became aware his extra senses were trying to tell him something. He narrowed his eyes at a slightly guilty looking Zhane. "What are you hiding?"
"It's…it's nothing," Zhane stammered as his friend glared at him. Deciding it wasn't the time to bring up Karone's escapades, he settled on telling him something else. With a sigh, he replied "You're glider's trashed. I don't know if we'll be able to fix it."
Cursing, Andros closed his eyes.
"What happened? What attacked you?"
"Shadows." Too tired to keep his eyes open, Andros let them shut as he told the story, only to open them wide with a sudden realization. "The letter!"
"You mean this letter?" Zhane magically produced the letter from out a pocket. "I found it in your jacket. Don't worry we'll deliver the letter. Then we can find our friends. I promise."
Andros nodded, his eyes automatically closing once more.
The silver ranger gave his friend a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Rest. You still need time to recover."
As the other ranger left, Andros reluctantly drifted off into sleep, his dreams haunted by darkness.
Next:
Chapter 5: The Red Dragon
Will Andros once more be able to swallow his pride and accept help?