Return of an Old Evil
Disclaimer: Same as before.
A/N: I would like to thank Slytherensangel26, who has reviewed every chapter so far! It really means a lot to me. Here's chapter 15, enjoy!
Chapter 15
Andros was striding down the corridor heading for the engine room to do some systems checks. It had been almost three hours since they had left the bridge to eat and get some rest after he found Zhane and Astronema asleep in the same bed in the Medical Bay. As he hurried along, he heard groaning noises. He halted midstride and listened closely, trying to figure out where it was coming from. After a few moments he determined that it was coming from behind him, so he turned around and headed back the way he had come, following the groaning until he came to the Medical Bay. He stopped and put his ear to the closed door. Sure enough, it was coming from inside.
He quickly opened the door and found that Zhane was awake; and it was obvious that he was in pain, for he was groaning and holding his head. Next to him, Astronema was still fast asleep.
Andros hurried to his side. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asked his best friend.
"I don know, man," Zhane replied weakly. "I woke up a few minutes ago with my head just pounding. I don't understand why, though. It barely hurt when I fell asleep a few hours ago."
"It's probably due to the concussion," Andros tried to reassure him. "I'll scan it just in case." He quickly retrieved the scanner from a shelf about ten feet away and hurried back to Zhane.
He turned it on and proceeded to scan Zhane's brain and surrounding areas. Several minutes passed and then Andros shut it off. "According to the scanner, the swelling in your brain has increased slightly, thus adding slightly more pressure to the surrounding areas. That's most likely why your headache has gotten worse," he explained.
"But why has the swelling increased and how do we stop it?" Zhane asked.
"Well, the best way to stop it would be to first relieve the extra pressure and go from there. As to why it happened, I can't say for sure. Brain injuries can be really tricky, and that makes them really hard to figure out sometimes," Andros responded.
"How do you relieve the extra pressure?" Zhane wanted to know.
Andros shook his head. "I know certain medicines can work, but I think I need to consult with Billy and DECA, as well as Alpha first. Their medical knowledge exceeds mine," he said. With that, he contacted Billy and Alpha and asked them to join him in the Medical Bay.
They arrived in only a couple minutes and Andros wasted no time in activating DECA's link to the room, which Zhane had deactivated earlier right before having his talk with Astronema, and explaining to them exactly what had happened.
After he finished, they immediately examined Zhane and conversed with each other, discussing the best possible treatment.
While this was going on, all the others arrived. Andros quickly walked up to them and held his hands out, indicating that they should stop where they were.
"What's going on? Is it Zhane?" Ashley asked him.
"Is he okay?" Tommy wanted to know.
"Is it serious?" Kim wondered.
"Guys, shh," Andros said. "Yes it's Zhane. The swelling in his brain has increase slightly, resulting in added pressure. He's in a lot of pain right now, and the last thing he needs right now is a lot of stimulation. What he does need is calm and quiet," he explained.
"But how serious is it?" Kim repeated.
Andros shook his head. "We're not sure yet. That's what they're trying to figure out."
"What can we do?" TJ asked.
"Just stay calm and quiet and out the way. One of us will let you know when you can get closer and talk to him," Andros replied seriously.
"Have you asked him what happened between him and Astronema yet?" Carlos spoke up.
Andros shook his head again. "Now is not the time. I'll ask him when he's stable and feeling better.
Carlos nodded, knowing he was right.
Just then Billy came up to him. "Alpha is hooking him up to two IV's right now to start him on two different medications, which should help decrease the pressure and swelling.
"Sp he's going to be all right?" Jason asked Billy.
"Yeah he is." He took a deep breath before continuing. "There's just one thing. He needs to be sedated to speed up the healing process. Alpha will do that as soon as he's finished with the IV's."
Cassie stepped forward. "How long will he be sedated?" She asked.
"Probably somewhere around twelve hours, give or take," Billy replied.
"What do we do in the meantime?" Adam wanted to know.
"Monitor him, get some rest, monitor Earth and surrounding areas and be alert and ready for trouble from Ivan Ooze or anyone else," Andros answered him.
"Sounds good, but what about Astronema?" Tommy asked.
"What do you mean?" Andros responded, sounding confused.
"I mean, what's she going to do," he clarified.
Andros shrugged. "I don't know, I guess the same as us," Andros replied.
"Are you really comfortable with her roaming freely about the ship?" Adam asked him.
"I hadn't really---," he began, but he was cut off as Alpha spoke up from over by Zhane.
"The IV's are in place and running and Zhane has been successfully sedated," he announced.
"That's good to hear," Andros said, relief in his voice. "Are the monitors in place?"
"Yes. Andros," Alpha replied. "They're in place and running.
"Thanks, Alpha," Andros told him. "Now, if anything happens, we'll know about it immediately and be able to respond instantly."
"Now that that's settled, I think I am going to go get some rest," Adam spoke up.
Tanya grinned mischievously. "I could join you, if you want me to," she said slyly.
Adam blushed furiously as her words were met with wolf whistles and cheers. Before he could say anything however, an anxious voice came from the other side of the room.
"Zhane, wake up!"Astronema, who was now awake, cried. "What happened?" She turned and looked at everyone standing around. "Why won't he wake up?" Her voice was anxious and scared.
Andros hurried over to her and explained the situation. He finished by telling her that he wouldn't wake up for twelve hours or so.
"But he will be okay, won't he?" She asked him.
He nodded. "Yes, but right now he need calmness and to sleep. Why don't you come with me. Something to eat and a nice long, hot shower will do you a world of good," he told her.
Astronema hesitated. "But what about Zhane? I don't think I should leave him. He may need me," she pointed out.
Andros put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He's hooked up to monitors that will alert us at the first sign of trouble and when he wakes up. We'll be able to get to him immediately if there is trouble," he reassured her. "Now, come on. I know you must be hungry."
Astronema hesitated a moment longer then reluctantly followed Andros out the room. She was indeed hungry. The others were right behind them.
Ivan sat on his throne in the assembly room impatiently watching his captives hard at work on his remaining two Machines of Destruction, Hawkitor and Tyrannotor. He didn't know why it was taking so long for them to get finished. He was tired of waiting. He wanted them done NOW!
"Hey you!" He called to one man, rising from his throne. "I suggest you get your ass in gear if you want to keep it! That goes for everyone! I want my machine finished ASAP! For every thirty minutes that they're not done, I will eliminate one of you, starting thirty minutes from right now!" He warned them. "Do you all understand?"
"Yes, My Lord," they all answered in one emotionless voice.
"I sure hope so," he muttered. "For your sakes."
He then turned and headed to his communications room to contact various agents to see if they have found Zordon yet. Or even if they have any leads. He was also tired of waiting on them as well. Heads would start to roll if he wasn't located VERY soon!
Astronema exited her room and looked around, uncertain of what she should do. She had just finished her shower. Andros had been right about her needing a shower. She did feel much better. Now her problem was figuring out what to do next. Part of her wanted to go sit with Zhane, and part of her just wanted to go to sleep, although she wasn't sure she could. After all, she was pretty edgy and that was understandable given all that had been through in the past day and a half or so.
Just the Andros rounded the corner, saving her from her dilemma. "Hi, Andros," she said.
"Hello Astronema," he replied. He then noticed her damp hair. Feel good after your shower?" He asked her.
She nodded. "I do, thanks," she responded.
"Good. Can we talk for a little while? There's something I need to ask you," He told her seriously.
"Okay," she replied. "Where should we talk?"
Andros indicated her open door. "How about you room?" He asked.
She nodded and motioned him in. He entered with her right behind him.
Andros pointed to her bed and they both sat down. When they were comfortable, he spoke.
"What happened between you and Zhane awhile back?" He asked, getting right to the point.
Astronema fidgeted nervously. "What makes you think anything happened between us before all this crap with Ivan?"
"Well first off, Look at how you two have been acting around each other, Secondly, Zhane's been really sad and withdrawn for a while, third, you show up and help us the instant after he gets hurt in the last battle, and lastly, the two of you have refused to be separated," he replied. "You guys obviously love each other and that doesn't happen instantly, it takes time.
She was silent for a few minutes before she spoke again. "You're right, something did happen," she said softly.
"But what exactly was it?" Andros asked her.
She shook her head. "It's not my place to say."
"Sure it is," he insisted.
"No it's not. Zhane should be the one who tells you," she told him.
"Well he hasn't, so I'm asking you. What happened?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't betray Zhane. You'll have to ask him," she replied.
Andros was totally confused now. "How the hell does telling me what happened betray Zhane?" he wanted to know.
"Zhane obviously had reasons for not telling you so I'm not going to go behind his back and risk losing his trust," she stated. "I've hurt him enough already and by God I won't hurt him anymore!" Her voice was firm. "I'm sorry, Andros. I would tell you if I had his approval to do so, but I don't, so you'll just have to ask him when he wakes up."
"Please, Astronema," he implored.
"I just can't. It wouldn't be right," she insisted.
Andros nodded slowly. He obviously wasn't going to get her to talk about it, and it made sense in a way for her to tell him to ask Zhane about it; but he really wanted to know what happened, and he wasn't the only one. "Okay thanks, Astronema," he said, getting up and heading for the door. "I'll do that when he wakes up." He opened the door and let himself out, leaving Astronema alone with her thoughts.
"Hey Cassie, what's wrong?" TJ asked his Korean girlfriend, noticing that she looked upset. The two of them were in the Simudeck. They were sitting on one of the couches in the simulated lounge. They had come here to rest and talk and just to enjoy being together. But minutes after they'd sat down, TJ had noticed that Cassie was obviously upset about something.
"I just wish that all this was over. I mean, Adam got injured, and Zhane's hurt now. What if the next time, something even worse happens?" She replied.
"Hey, come on, don't think like that," he told her. "We'll be all right. It'll all be over soon."
Cassie got up and started pacing back and forth. "I can't help it. I don't want to lose anyone, and the longer this goes on, the more likely it'll happen," she said, her voice trembling and her lip quivering.
TJ got up as well. "Come here," he told her. She complied and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and rubbing her back.
"Look at me," he said firmly after a minute. She did and he stroked her cheek. "Listen, I know you're scared, but trust me, it will be over soon and we'll all be okay."
She nodded slightly. "I do trust you, TJ. I just want this to be over. I think this is the scariest situation we've been in yet, and people are getting hurt, and---"she trailed off as her eyes welled up.
"Cassie, I know that it's scary, but I also know that we can and will stop Ivan," he replied and kissed her tenderly. His eyes lit up as he got an idea. "Hey, I know, when this is all over, we'll go away for a weekend, just the two of us. How does that sound?" He asked her.
Her eyes lit up at the prospect. "Do you really mean that? It sounds wonderful!" She exclaimed.
"It will be wonderful. That's a promise," he told her.
Cassie kissed him in response. "We'll have so much fun!" She then thought of something. "Hey, wait. Do you think Andros will be okay with it?" She asked anxiously.
"He won't have a choice," TJ replied, smiling.
Cassie couldn't resist giggling a little. "I love you, TJ," she told him.
"I love you too, Cassie," he replied tenderly. After that, no more words were spoken as they kissed passionately for a long time.
Ivan stood gazing at Hawkitron. It had just been finished minutes ago. The titanium-armored mechanical silver bird was really a majestic sight. Its razor-sharp talons were sharp enough to rip metal to shreds, its wings were powerful enough to cause windstorms, it was capable of flying at mach five, and it was extremely agile and maneuverable. The added ability to fire laser blasts from its mouth made it a terrifying and deadly bird of prey.
He shivered with excitement. Three of his four Machines of Destruction were complete. Only one more to go, and then the real fun would begin.
A/N: I hope everyone liked this chapter! Don't be shy! Click that little button and review! I really appreciate your feedback! It's great motivation!