Return of an Old Evil

Disclaimer: Saban owns everything, i own nothing.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. It really means a lot to me to know what people think of the story. The timeline and the pairings are the same as I stated before.

Chapter 2

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Cassie asked as she came into the galley for breakfast the next morning and saw Ashley, TJ, and Carlos already there.

"Not much," Carlos responded. "Just eating something before our workout in the Simudeck in a little while."

"Yeah, you need all the energy you can get to handle the training sessions that Andros comes up with," TJ replied, and they all laughed, knowing exactly what he meant. Andros's training sessions had a habit of being brutal.

"You said it, Teej," Carlos said. "It seems that only Zhane comes out of them not totally exhausted and ready to drop."

"I know," Cassie replied. "And speaking of Zhane, have you guys noticed how quiet and withdrawn he's been lately?"

"He's usually so energetic and nearly impossible to shut up," Ashley put in. It's not like him at all."

"What's not like who?" Andros asked as he entered the galley and heard Ashley's last sentence.

"Zhane," Cassie told him. "It's not like him to be quiet and withdrawn like he's been lately."

"I know, but I can't get him to tell me what's wrong. I'm really worried about him," Andros replied, his voice serious.

"I really wish he's talk to us," TJ said. "I mean, we're all friends. We could help him with whatever's wrong. And whatever it is, it's really upsetting him." They all nodded at TJ's statement, wishing that Zhane would let them help him.

Just then, the galley door opened and Zhane walked in. "Good morning, guys," he said softly, the sadness evident in his voice though he tried to sound normal. After he got some food from the synthetron and sat down, they could also see the sadness and pain in his eyes, despite the fact that he was trying to hide it. They realized that whatever was going on, it was hurting him deeply.

"They all ate in silence for a few minutes until it was broken by Ashley. "Hey, Zhane, I know something's upsetting you; I just wish you'd tell us so we can help you."

"I told you guys last night that there's nothing wrong," Zhane insisted firmly. "Why won't you just believe me?"

"Because your face and actions say otherwise," Andros told him firmly and the others nodded in agreement.

Zhane got up and shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about, Andros. Anyway I think it's time to get to the Simudeck for our training session."

"Yeah, you're right," Andros replied. "But this discussion isn't over. We'll get back to it after training." Zhane just shook his head again and walked out; Andros and the others following right behind him.

While this was going on, hidden inside his hollowed out asteroid, the evil being snickered upon hearing the breakfast conversation among the rangers. He could see and hear everything in the galley as well as hear everything in the Simudeck after placing his bugs in both places. It was too big a risk of detection to put any anywhere else along with a visual one in the Simudeck. If he did, DECA would no doubt spot it. It didn't really matter anyway because the two bugs he had were giving him all the information he needed for his plans. He's also placed one aboard the Dark Fortress in hopes of finding out where Zordon was being held. So far, though, he was coming up empty on that front. No matter, heknew hewouldfind Zordon before too much longer. So they're training, he thought with a sneer. As if that could help. They could train all they wanted and it still wouldn't do them any good. Not against me, anyway.

He laughed to himself as the machines all around him were winding up their work. Within the hour, they would be putting the finishing touches on what they were working on. The countdown was nearly over now. It was down to mere hours now until it was time to strike. He couldn't wait.

"I am so ready for a nice hot relaxing bubble bath," Cassie told TJ later that evening after they finished supper as they walked toward the elevator to take them up to the ship's observatory.

"That'll have to wait until we get these enhancers installed in the visual sensors," TJ said regretfully. The new enhancers would greatly increase both the range and the quality of the Megaship's visual sensors. Andros had finished making the adjustments on them earlier in the afternoon after their training session and now they just needed to be installed which is what Cassie and TJ were about to do.

"I know," Cassie replied, as they entered the elevator. "I'm just planning the rest of my evening out loud.

"Am I included in your plans?" TJ asked her. "Because I sure hope so." He gave her his eager puppy look.

Cassie burst out laughing at his eager puppy look. "Of course you are," She said as she slipped her arm around him. "Right after my bath."

"Hey, I could join you," he replied, smiling wickedly.

Cassie whacked him upside the head. "You wish," she said giggling, as they stepped out of the elevator into the observatory.

TJ stuck his tongue out at her, which made her roll her eyes at him. "Real mature there, Teej," she told him witheringly.

TJ's response was to sweep her into a big hug. "What do you say we get this done as quickly as possible so you can get your bath taken so we can spend some time alone together," he asked her.

"I say, that's the best idea I've heard in a long time," she replied, kissing him. "Come on, let's get to work.

Meanwhile, Zhane was puttering around with cleaning the galley after they'd all eaten and as usual, he was thinking about Astronema. He didn't know how much longer he could keep his feelings for her a secret. Everyone had noticed the dramatic change in him and were relentless in their efforts in trying to get him to talk about it, especially Andros. What he did know was that something had to give before he fell apart and took the whole team with him. That would be nothing short of disastrous.

A loud whoosh made him whirl around in time to see Andros entering the galley.

"Hey, I though you were with Ashley?" Zhane asked, confused.

"I am. I just came in here to get Ashley's CD. She left it here after dinner."

Zhane crossed to the counter where he had set it down and picked it up and handed it to Andros. "Here you go," He said.

"Thanks, man," Andros replied, as he took it. He started to leave but turned back as something occurred to him. "How long has it been since we've had a run-in with Astronema or her minions?" He asked Zhane, a thoughtful look on his face.

"I think a couple of days, why?" Zhane asked, sounding puzzled.

"I thought so. She's been too quiet for too long. I don't like it one bit,' Andros stated, looking nervous.

"Oh come on, Andros," Zhane scoffed. "You worry too much. Just enjoy the quiet. Especially because it means you and Ashley have more time together."

Andros detected the note of envy in his best friend's voice. "You'll find someone, Zhane, believe me. I know you will," Andros tried to reassure him.

Zhane appreciated the effort, even though it was wasted. He already had someone, if she'd just let herself love him back. He couldn't say that to Andros, of course. So he opted to try to end the conversation altogether. "Thanks, Andros," he replied. That means a lot to me, but right now I think I'll go work out on the Simudeck." He made to leave but was stopped at the door by Andros's voice.

"Hey, Zhane, be careful, all right. And be ready for any sign of trouble at all times. I have a really bad feeling about this inactivity from Astronema." There was an urgency in his voice that Zhane picked up on immediately.

"I will, Andros," he said seriously. But secretly he was hoping that Astronema's lack of action meant that she was seriously considering going out with him. He turned and left the galley as Andros headed out as well to warn the rest of the team and get back to Ashley.

Inside his asteroid base, the evil being grinned maliciously. It was time. Time to implement his plan to obliterate the power rangers. He could still close his eyes and see that huge ball of rock and ice hurtling at him from space as he hovered over the Earth locked in battle with the Ninja Megafalconzord. He could see it about to obliterate him and doing the only possible thing to save his life. He separated from his Ectomorphicon Titan creation, Hornitor, and teleported himself away at the last possible minute. If that weren't bad enough, the Falconzord had destroyed his other Ectomorphicon Titan, Scorpitron, a short while before that. And every time he did mentally see that replay of what should have been his final moments alive, rage filled his entire being.

But now things were going to change. Curling his purple hand into a fist he spoke gleefully. "Rangers, your destruction is now at hand. Zordon's time will come shortly after." He opened his fist and gestured to the hundreds of medium-sized purple jars in the room with him that were stacked as high as the ceiling. Immediately, they all disappeared at once in a flash of purple light. They reappeared moments later on KO-35 in the downtown area where the newly-returned rebels were in the process of rebuilding after the attack over two years ago by Dark Specter and his monsters.

It had begun.

A/N: I bet you all can guess who the evil being is now! If you still aren't sure, don't worry, it will be revealed in the next chapter. I would really love it if you click that little purple button and and leave a review for me.