Author's Note: Started the same time chapter 13 was finished. Finished? Who the hell knows.
I'm in college now. Several states away from home. Second semester. Fifteen credit hours and a sorority and a boyfriend and what the hell happened, because I so do not even recognize me. Good thing or bad? Has my writing at least improved?
Do y'all all hate me for not updating, or was this story not good enough to hate for lack of updates?
Oh, and no Tommy or Kim, and it's kinda short. Some shockers, though, or maybe y'all all saw it coming and I didn't.
OHOHOH! Thanks to YoukoTaichou for Kat and Jason. They're hatin' ya right now, hun, but don't worry – all will be well. (Maybe.)
Chapter 14;
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2001
1.35 AM
Room 117
Angel Grove Hotel
Jason threw himself on the bed, sprawling across the white hotel sheets. The comforter was crumpled at the foot of the bed, the blanket tossed somewhere on the floor, the fan going full blast. He wore a pair of black athletic shorts (a dark red stripe down the side, of course) and nothing else. He'd just finished a helluva work out, with over two hundred push-ups (not all at once – he didn't want his muscles to explode), followed by the cardio and a bit of yoga. Sure, it wasn't weight lifting or even fighting for survival, but it kept him in shape...and usually wore him out enough to sleep.
Tonight – or this morning, really – however, the work-out didn't achieved the desired result. He was sweating, his heart was beating, and he was still wired. It had been almost two days since he'd fought as a ranger, and it was starting to get to him, both mentally and physically. He was pumped for a fight, on his toes; too much adrenaline build-up, Kat would say. Mentally...well, he kept wondering what was next, what they were planning, how to fix it.
The effect was twice as bad, he thought, for his team, including Karone and Zhane. Karone, of course, was still healing in the MedBay, with Zhane, loyal and loving, by her side. Billy, Trini and Zach were there as well, choosing the stay in the Command Center rather than returning to the hotel. They were stressed, though, and if it continued at the same rate, they would burn out worrying over Kim and Tommy and how to fix it before the fight even reached its climax. He needed to do something before then.
Before he could get himself worked up further, a flash of white caught the edge of his vision and a cat wiggled in under the open window, landing on the floor with less than catlike gracefulness. Jason was frowning by the time Kat finished her transformation, noting the dark circles and worn look of her face. She'd lost weight – it was obvious, even under the gym shorts and giant red t-shirt. The clothing was also odd. Normally, she was dressed in an indie meets girly type of look, which was a far cry from her teenage days but fitting for the new her.
"Hey," her voice washed over him, soft but full of hidden frustration. "You wanted to see me?"
He reached over and pulled her down to sit on the bed in front of him, her body twisted so she could peck a kiss on his lips. He kept it brief, though – he had things that he had to talk about with her.
He'd called her for a reason. Their method of communication was only to be used for emergencies, because it was so risky. Jason would leave a red and pink rose on an empty grave marker under the medium sized apple tree in the cemetery (well, this week – it changed every week). It was very double-o-seven, but also very risky.
"I needed to talk to you." He pushed her hair past her face and turned her around, digging his hands into the knots of her muscles. She gave a low moan, and he fought the urge to give her a massage in...other areas. "There've been new...developments."
"I'm aware." Her voice was low, her back going ramrod stiff. "The rulers came back...hurting and angry, and Andros is on the black list. Kidnap on site and all that. Ashley is on the kill on sight list. You all are in a lot of trouble." There was something else, because she opened her mouth to speak and then shut it.
"Andros is with us, and Ashley is with him, or vise versa. Something like that. The tide is turning, Kat." Jason murmured, just as low. "I...I want to ask you to join us, to come stay with us."
There was silence, then she stood up. Jason tensed, ready to go after her, but she merely began to pace. "You didn't even bother to seduce me into saying yes." As a joke, and for small things, Jason would used his...charms to persuade her (and sometimes he lost and ended up her slave for the day). She laughed, bitterly. "The ironic thing? I was going to go to Zordon soon and ask for sanction, anyway."
Jason frowned, lost. Kat had never really shown and interest in switching sides; she'd always been content to live her life separate from the good side, despite the fact that, one day, they both knew he would have to face her on the battlefield. He reached over and gently took a hold of her forearms, pulling her over so he could look down and meet her eyes. There were tears in them, making them brighter and bluer than he remembered (and he hated it). "What happened? What did they do?"
Instead of answering verbally, she took his hand and slowly moved it down her body. His sense of foreboding grew as he passed the hollow of her throat, the dip between her breasts, and when she stopped him on the curve of her stomach, he knew. "No." His lips were numb as he spoke, even as he drew her to him, the tears falling down her face.
"Three months, just barely." She whispered into his chest as he stroked her hair, terrified and awestruck. The woman he loved was carrying their baby, and they had two masterminds of evil after them. They were both major players in a war that was bigger than anything they'd ever seen before, and she was with his child, delicate and barely even alive. "What are we going to do?"
He whispered to her as his leader's mind took over, already going over plans and crossing things out, measuring chances and risks. "Sh, love. We'll figure this out." He kissed the top of her head, eyes on the dark window behind him, "Everything will be okay."
Saturday, Nov. 30, 2001
2.05 AM
Command Center
The main chamber of the Command Center was vacant, with the exception of four people...well, one giant head, one alien robot, and two technical humans. Ashley was sitting on the ground, leaning against some mechanical thing that did some mechanical something. Andros stood in front of her, arms crossed, despite the wounds he'd acquired during the fight with Tommy (Ash had no idea who Tommy actually was, except the evil White ranger, Emperor of Evil, and a former friend of the rangers, which seemed weird, but whatever).
"Ivan Ooze is in charge of Sirius." Andros's voice was strong and steady, but not as much as it had been when he'd started. He was listing the Empire's collection of planets and the people in charge of them. Ash hadn't recognized any of the names or places, but Andros had explained how far away Earth was from intergalactic communication and that it was probable that no one on the planet (except Zordon and Alpha) would have heard of them.
"Ivan Ooze is free? When did this happen?" Zordon queered after a moment. "Last I remembered, Ivan was trapped on Eltar." The tone held an underlying wistfulness, such that even Ash heard it.
Andros stopped moving and looked forward, ever the solider. "Eltar was on one of the first planets that the Emperor and Empress personally conquered. Scorpina is in charge of it now, and Ooze was freed first thing." A pause, "The Phantom Ranger abandoned the planet after a while, leaving his post when it became obvious that the end was inevitable."
Ash had no idea why the last part was so important, but it seemed to be, as Zordon closed his eyes and let out a pained sigh (well, as much of a sigh as a giant head in a tube could manage). "That is...disturbing. I had not been informed of this."
"The majority of the Empire is under order to not speak of any of it. Only the upper echelon of the army is even aware that the majority of planets under attack are actually under attack. The Emperor thought is would cause a greater panic if communication were to be cut off, and help alienate the planetary governments from each other." Andros reported.
The Emperor was probably right, Ashley thought. No way for people to call for reinforcements, no way to reach out and warn people. Smart – terrifying but smart. She shifted with the thought, causing Andros to cast a glance back at her. A smile and a wink made his refocus on his new commander (Andros's words, not hers).
"There is one more mission that is of the utmost importance, Zordon." Andros spoke into the silence. "One involving Phaedos."
An electric current speared the air as soon as the word left Andros's lips, causing Ashley to sit up straighter, Alpha to swivel around from the wall (recharging, he'd said), and Zordon to come to attention. There was no possible reason for Ashley to come to such attention (or there shouldn't have been, anyway), and if anyone had been paying attention, they'd have seen her eyes widen in fright.
"The Empress and Emperor are power-hungry, Zordon. Nothing will be enough for them." Andros's face, which Ash could see since he was pacing her way again, was bleak, full of nothing. Her own face was blanked by this time, giving no hint to her panic. "They have sent their pet witch – Kathrine Hillard of Earth, inheritor of Rita's powers – to accomplish this task. I have no doubt that she will soon complete the mission."
"What are the chances of Phaedos falling into the Empire's hands?" Zordon demanded, actually demanded. It was a new look for the mentor of the rangers, though Ash had only known him a few days.
"Undeniable. If it were the old Emperor...but these new leaders have powers beyond those of your rangers, and if the rumors of Phaedos are true, then there is only one Guardian No matter how good in battle he is, he would be no match for the entirety of the Empire, which the Emperor will no doubt bring upon the planet if he believes it necessary."
Her, Ashley thought. The guardian of Phaedos was a woman...except no, she wasn't, because she didn't exist. Phaedos was a legend, a myth, a fairytale with a tragic ending. It was a story her mother had told her at bedtime, a hand over her daughter's, a wistful look in her eye. Even on her death bed, Audreia's last words had been concerning the mystical place - "Never forget the stories of your childhood, my daughter, my little ashstar, my pet, for even the whimsical fables hold a bit of truth."
The booming voice of Zordon brought her back. "This is troubling." Zordon spoke mostly to himself, it seemed. Then he focused back on Andros. "I will need to speak to the Rangers and formulate a plan as soon as possible. Thank you for the information, Andros."
It was a dismissive, and despite his ornery attitude, Andros bowed a little and touched his forehead ("It is how I learned to thank my superiors," he'd told her when she'd asked). Then he spun around and held out his hand, silent.
She grabbed it, still in shock, and let him lead her out of the room before asking a question. Well, several question, but none on what she was truly curious about. "So what was that all about?"
"Which part?" He returned her question with another, herding her into the room he'd been assigned by Zordon. The room was sparse, with a bed, a dresser, a closet, a nightstand and a table with three chairs. All were brushed metal, the walls and floor the same beige color. The only piece of color was a vase with sunflowers and roses (red and yellow – red for Andros, yellow for Ash) and linens.
She tossed herself on the bed (which was surprisingly comfy) and sprawled out, head on one of the million pillows (bright colors, all, which was in odds with the room). Andros dragged a chair over and straddled it, his back to the wall, near Ashley's head and facing the door. "The part about Eltar and why is Ooze important and who's the Phantom Ranger and...Phaedos?"
Andros hummed for a second, then started talking, in the same voice he'd used to explain things to Zordon. "Eltar is Zordon's home planet. It's one of the most sophisticated planets in the universe; it was one of the first to possess, and subsequently discard of, the Power Rangers. It was so sophisticated that it didn't really need the Power as a source of protection. Instead, it trained youths to fight using superior technology and magic. Zordon's son is rumored to be the Phantom Ranger, the leader of Eltar's magic and tech forces. From what I've seen today, I have no doubt it's true."
"Oh. Well." Ashley absorbed that, then moved on. She'd reflect when she had all the information. "Ooze?"
"Ivan Ooze was the oldest and most powerful enemy that Eltar ever faced. Zordon, the most powerful magic user and tech user, went against Imperial Orders and fought Ooze in his own way. Ooze was finally destroyed – or at least locked away in a...think of it as a magic waste dump. Zordon was punished, though, for disobeying orders and exiled from Eltar. He petitioned the Imperial Court to take the 'magic dump' that contained Ooze, but he was denied – Ooze was thought contained permanently."
"As for Phaedos..." He paused, looking like he was thinking of the words to use. Ashley had to resist shaking him to get him to talk faster. "There have always been rumors of a planet that houses more than it's fair share of Power. It's said that this place is called Phaedos, and any who win the Power of that planet will be upgraded, for lack of better terminology. They – the ones using the Power – will be unstoppable in the face of their enemies and the Power can never be stripped away."
He paused again, continuing when Ash nodded for him to go on. There had to be more. "Kat – Kathrine Hillard – was brainwashed into helping Rita. When the Emperor and Empress took over, they broke the spell...in exchange for her service. She was granted Rita's magical abilities, on the condition that she serves the Empire. Kat is a competent woman, unlike Rita, and I have no doubt that Phaedos will be found and soon."
"And if the Empire of Evil get it's hands on that Power..." She understood better than most. If her fantastical mother, death and buried and all but dust now, had been right about even a fraction of it... "But they can't. They won't be able to. Only the pure of soul and heart are allowed even near the Power." She sat up and gripped his hands. "Right? Isn't that how the myth goes?"
Andros's eyes narrowed and he took a second to respond. "There are many different stories about Phaedos, but none as whimsical as that." His head was cocked like a bird of prey. "Now what secrets are you hiding, little star?"
"My mother," Ashley whispered after a moment. She closed her eyes and curled her knees to her chest, lost in memories. She barely even noticed when he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his chest, her ear against his shirt. "She was...fragile, in every way. My father...he was rough. He broke her, I think, in a lot of ways. She wasn't right; I'd always assumed that was what was wrong." She paused, thinking of all the little things her mother had done that just weren't right. "After she lost my brother in still birth. Well. It just...I was seven, and even I saw that she'd snapped."
Ash leaned back against him, distantly wondering at her ability to open up. She hadn't talked of her mother (or her father) since the passing. Most of her friends weren't even aware that the only parent in her life was that monster. Andros, though...she was just letting it all out there, after only, what, two weeks of knowing him? Give or take, anyway.
She resumed when she felt his hand glide through her hair. "She started telling these stories about a world far, far away from here, a planet that was desert and water and forest and so ancient it would make a person's teeth ache, the magic so engrained in the very core. The planet had started out like our own, according to her stories, a booming civilization with wonders that would make our eyes tear. So ancient they were, though, that they were there before any other planet, and were, like the tigers in the forest and the sharks in the ocean, without prey...except for one thing: themselves."
Ashley cleared her throat, thinking back, remembering. Her mother's blue eyes had been soft and distant, as if she was already gone, mentally, from the world she would soon to pass from. Her blonde hair had been losing luster by that point, and her body, already slender, had been thinning, her ribs showing. Her hands, though, had been as soft as ever, stroking over her daughter's hair, as she told the same story she'd been telling for months.
"Instead of technology, the planet used magic, bonding with the animals around them and taking on their qualities. Soon, though, poison entered their world in the form of corruption. Their temples and rulers were overthrown by those who wanted the magic for their own purposes, people without animals familiars to keep them grounded and pure. The civilizations collapsed; the magic retreated from the people, and the animals perished, both those prehistoric and modern. The people soon died out, leaving behind grand ruins and even grander grave beds. A group of seven, pure and untarnished by corruption and too young to feel hated for the sentient planet that stole their family, were raised by the guardian animals." Ashley continued, voice hollow.
"The animals died years later, leaving seven young men and women to care for the planet and it's hibernating magic. Unfortunately, planets were starting to come into being, and at the same time, one young man grew discontent with his peaceful life. He was an adventurous spirit, and the planet, feeling sad to cage her young, allowed the young man to come and go as he pleased. The stories, however, about him, and even those spread by him, haunted the planet – people lusted after the power, and soon, others invaded the sanctums. The young man's sister was killed, and the six remaining soldiers waged war on the outsiders. They channeled their personal power, and four out of the six remaining perished in their quest to shield the planet from view and close it off forever. One woman was caged inside the planet, to keep guard on the skies her sisters and brothers had died to protect. Her brother had been forced to close the planet from the other side, to forever keep the history flowing, in case the gates ever needed to be opened again."
"My mother always claimed that her ancestors were one with the oceans, a family of whales – a record keeping family, people with memories so large, they forgot nothing. She'd follow it up by saying how she, too, was born in freedom, but of the air, not the ocean – a dragonfly, gentle and breakable, and a living illusion that didn't belong in the world around her. " Ashley smiled bitterly. "She also told me, before she died, that I was different. She called me Ashstar because she believed I would rise from the ashes and conquer, that I would bring a type of rebirth, but that I would also be unbending and full of life." Ashley laughed, the sound grating. "And then she died and left me with him."
The next thing Ashley knew, her face was buried in Andros's chest and her cheeks were wet from tears for the first time in years.