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

Ch. 9 Responsibility

A little over four years had passed and Andros and Karone, now ten-years-old, were about to get the biggest shock of their life. They had heard the rumors going around school saying that Kinwon had chosen the first ever team of Power Rangers from KO-35. Their parents had informed them that the rumors were very true but what they failed to mention to their children was that they were being considered.

Ajax and Bella had let their concerns about their children possibly becoming rangers be known to the entire selection committee and especially Kinwon. However, they knew that their protests were falling on deaf ears. Andros and Karone had both began to notice the anxiety of their parents but they never questioned them. Late one night, long after their parents had put them to bed, Andros and Karone were awoken by a knock on the front door. The siblings shared a worried look before they decided to see what was going on. By the time they reached the stairs their parents' voices along with Kinwon's voice could easily be heard.

"What's he doing here?" Karone asked her brother. Andros shrugged and leaned forward to see if he could make out any of the adults' conversation.

"I will need to run the necessary tests," they heard Kinwon state, "and then evaluate the fighting skills."

"When?" their father questioned.

"Tomorrow would be excellent," the commander replied, "but if you want to wait a few days that will be fine." As they heard the adults coming back towards the front door they quickly made their way back to their room but they clearly heard the commander say, "Two of the seven rangers have been chosen."

"Did you hear that?" Karone questioned. Andros nodded and waited for her to continue. "I don't think we're old enough to even be considered so it must mean that Mom and Dad are going to be Power Rangers."

"That's so cool," Andros replied. "When we go back to school we'll have to tell everyone." They both went to sleep dreaming of what it would be like having rangers as parents.

Meanwhile, their parents were still downstairs debating what they should do. Neither wanted their children to have to take the great responsibility of being rangers but at the same time they would be very proud of their children for being chosen for such a great responsibility.

"What should we do?" Bella questioned. "They're too young to take on such a big responsibility but we really can't tell Kinwon no."

"I don't know, baby," Ajax replied. "I guess all we can do is take Andros and Karone for the tests and see what happens." Bella nodded he head against his shoulder and he pulled away slowly so he could guide her back to their room. She was practically asleep by the time they reached their room but Ajax knew that neither of them would be getting a good night's sleep.

The next morning Andros and Karone woke up to find their parents gone. The found a note on the refrigerator that told them that their parents were gone to a meeting with Kinwon. They ate breakfast in silence until Andros noticed a strange paper on the counter. He got the paper and skimmed over the contents. It took several seconds for the contents to make sense to Andros and even then he had to reread it again.

"Karone!" he yelled. His sister rushed over and he forced the paper into her hands. "Read this." Karone read the paper and her eyes grew wide as she realized what it meant.

"Dies this mean what I think it means?" she questioned and Andros shrugged helplessly.

"I think it means we're the ones Kinwon was talking about last night," he replied. "But why us? We're only ten and I've seen a lot of the older kids at school that are much better fighters."

"I know," Karone stated. "I think we better ask Mom and Dad when they get back."

By the time Ajax and Bella returned Andros and Karone had fallen asleep on the couch. As Ajax attempted to shut the door quietly Andros jolted up, successfully startling his mother and waking his sister. It took him several minutes to calm down and realize exactly where he was.

"I really thought I was over that," he muttered, shaking away the last remaining fragments of his nightmare. It was then that he realized his parents had returned and he gladly welcomed the distraction. "What does this letter mean?" He handed the letter over to his mother, whose face paled as she realized what Andros was talking about.

"Well," Ajax began, coming over to join his family on the couch, "despite our protests Kinwon and the selection committee have decided to make you two rangers."

"Why us?" Andros asked for the second time that night, hoping that this time he would get an answer.

"Apparently, your teacher has been recording both of you while you've been sparring and he showed them to Kinwon," he explained. "Kinwon tells us that you both have extraordinary potential and that you both possess a Power Signature meaning you can hold the Power."

"Are the others as young as us?" Karone questioned, hoping that they would already know the other rangers.

"From what he told us," Bella began, "you are the youngest two but you're all pretty close in age."

"When do we get to meet these other ranges?" Andros asked, still afraid that this was the worst idea he had ever hears.

"Tomorrow," his father replied. "That's why we're all going to bed."