Disclaimer: As much as I would like for it to be, Power Rangers is not my creation.

Star Fata: Actually, she's in the next chapter but we still have to get through all the 'he doesn't want to fall in love with her' crap.

Jessica01: It gets a little worse right here.

Slytherin-Angel44: I fell bad for him too and I'm the one doing it to him.

Ch. 24 Leaving It All Behind

Andros and Zhane arrived on the surface just seconds after they had descended through their jumptubes and the surveyed the area for Astronama. They spotted her and ran forward to get her only to be intercepted by Darkonda and Ecliptor. Andros lost himself in the fight, allowing his emotions to fuel his power and he soon had Darkonda on the ground. He delivered the final blow to the evil creature and watched as he blew up. Beside him he could hear Zhane fighting Ecliptor and when he turned to face them Zhane nodded his head towards where Astronama now stood.

"Poor little Red Ranger," she mocked. "What are you going to do?" Andros stood there, frozen. He couldn't find it in himself to fight his sister. What if he hurt her or worse killed her? He'd never be able to forgive himself. He felt the familiar presence of his sister slip further and further away and he tried to pull her back to him but soon he felt her almost disappear completely from his mind. "Now, your weak little Karone has lost all control. Only Astronama remains."

"I don't believe you!" he yelled, although he made no move to attack her. "Karone's still in there and one day I'll get her back."

"Red Ranger," Astronama began, "I promise you I will destroy your sister long before you can save her so you might as well say goodbye now." She approached the ranger slowly, although she already knew he wouldn't attack her and she planned to use it to her advantage. "Come on, I'll even give you an advantage, you can have your little saber," she challenged but the Red Ranger kept backing away. She kept pushing, knowing exactly where she needed to get him in order for her plan to work without flaw. It wasn't long before she had him backed into a corner and with the Silver Ranger busy with Ecliptor she had this ranger's destruction all planned out.

Andros groaned silently when he felt his heel come in contact with a wall and he didn't have to look to know he had been backed into an alley. He looked at Astronama advancing towards him and he searched for any sign that Karone was still there. He found no proof but he knew in his heart that she was still alive and he couldn't hurt Karone, he just couldn't. He had hurt her enough already, costing her the loss of her childhood and then letting Dark Specter get a hold of her again after she had joined the rangers.

"Karone," he pleaded, "you have to fight. Fight for me, for Zhane, for anyone. We need you, I need you!" He saw a brief confusion pass through the evil princess' eyes but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"I already told you, Karone is no more," Astronama taunted. "All that's left is me, Astronama. And now, Red Ranger, you will be defeated."

"No!" He heard Zhane yell from somewhere behind Astronama but he couldn't see him. Andros looked up to see a monster rushing towards him. He raised his Spiral Saber and managed to block the monster's attack, keeping him at a distance until his best friend arrived. "Are you alright?" Zhane asked without looking away from the monster. The silent reply he received was enough to satisfy his friend and they continued fighting. Astronama and Ecliptor made their exit silently, hating to have to regroup and calculate another master plan, but not really having a choice. The monster exploded in defeat not long after their departure and for that both rangers were thankful. When they exited the alley they saw a monster firing at a group of civilians and then Ecliptor was back terrorizing another group.

"That one's mine," Andros stated to his friend running towards the monster.

"Right," Zhane replied going to make a stand against Ecliptor. It wasn't long before Zhane noticed that Andros was having trouble and he hurried to finish up his fight with Ecliptor.

"Poor, little Red Ranger," the monster mocked. "I hear your sister is back on our side again and there's nothing you can do about it. Dark Specter is using her as a pawn and when you come after her it will be the destruction of both of you."

"He will never hurt my sister!" Andros yelled, losing control of his temper and fighting hastily. "I will save her!" He fell to the ground with the monster's next blow and Zhane rushed to save him.

"Andros! Run!" He yelled as he knocked the monster off balance and slashed it with his saber. The monster grabbed Zhane by the waste and pulled him down with him. The explosion was more than enough to knock Andros back to the ground again and he fought his way back up quickly only to fall to his knees.

"Zhane! No!" he screamed in agony, his best friend's body lying on the ground with his helmet smashed open. "Come on, Zhane. Wake up. I know you, you won't let them beat you." Andros felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Kinwon standing behind him. When the older man motioned for soldiers to carry the Silver Ranger away Andros argued, "I'll do it. Don't touch him." He carefully placed his brother's body in his arms and stood. He walked quickly but carefully to a nearby medical tent and laid Zhane now. "What are his chances?" The doctor checked Zhane quickly and found little in the way of good news. He glanced over his shoulder at the Commander and then turned to face the now demorphed Red Ranger. "Just tell me!"

"I'm sorry, Andros," the doctor began. "The only way he'll survive is if he is placed in cryogenic suspension and I can't tell you how long it will be."

"But he'll survive?" Andros questioned, trying to hold on to some little shred of hope and the doctor nodded. "Do it." Within the hour, Zhane was placed in his chamber and it was loaded into the secret room of the Megaship. As Andros got ready to leave on his hunt for Dark Specter and Karone his siblings approached him.

"We're staying behind, Andros," Zarkin stated, pulling his brother into a hug.

"Are you sure?" Andros questioned. "I need you."

"You'll be okay, Andros," Bryce added. "Besides, we have to keep Kilee save and going with you to track down Dark Specter isn't going to keep her very safe."

"Just be careful, alright?" he asked his brothers. "I don't want to lose anymore family."

"We'll be fine," Zarkin replied. "You just go hunt down that bastard and get our sister back." Andros nodded, walking onto the Megaship and closing the door before he could change his mind. He took one more look at the home and family he was leaving before turning his sights fully on Dark Specter and his sister.

A/N: Please Review!