Can't Let Go
Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers
(A/N: This chapter is dedicated to JasonLeeScottFan, who was the first person to comment on both of my stories.)
Chapter 2: Silver Surprise
The four rangers sat at their usual table at The Surf Spot. Andros sat next to Cassie and TJ and Carlos sat across from them.
Cassie was having fun hanging out with her friends, but she couldn't help noticing that Andros wasn't very involved. She poked his arm. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine." He said draping his arm around her. "It's just that I ran into Ashley before I came here and she seemed…off." It was the best way he could describe it. "Have you guys noticed anything?"
"No." TJ answered. "She seemed fine to me."
"Actually, she did look kind of distracted when I asked if she wanted to come with us." Carlos responded.
"You think it could have something to do with this morning?" Cassie asked. I should have figured it had something to do with Ashley. She thought.
"Maybe." Andros considered.
"What happened this morning?" Carlos asked.
"Ashley thought she heard something this morning, but Andros and I didn't hear anything." Cassie answered.
"You think we should check on her?" TJ asked.
"That's probably a good idea." Andros answered. He stood as the others did and left the building. Just when they found a safe spot to teleport, DECA contacted them. "What is it DECA?"
"Ecliptor and Darkonda are attacking in Angel Grove Park." The AI voice came through the communicator with urgency.
"We're on it." He answered. "Ready?" He looked at his team and got the affirmative nodded. "Let's Rocket!"
They morphed and teleported to the park.
Angel Grove Park
"We meet again rangers." Darkonda taunted. "But this time we've got a little surprise for you." Darkonda stood behind Ecliptor. Suddenly, they were engulfed by bright light.
"What the hell?" TJ exclaimed.
"What happened to them?" Andros asked.
"Allow me to introduce myself." The newly formed creature moved forward. "I am Darkliptor. And you have met your match." Without further warning, he slashed his sword through the air sending a wave of energy crashing into the rangers. "Quantrons attack!!"
Cassie, TJ and Carlos took on the quantrons while Andros went after the newly formed Darkliptor.
"Spiral Saber!" His weapon appeared in his hands as he engaged Darkliptor.
Andros lifted his saber to block Darkliptor's blow. His knees buckled underneath the strength of the creature's attack, but he held his saber in place.
"You cannot defeat me Red ranger."
Andros grunted when Darkliptor's foot connected with his stomach and he was sent flying backwards.
"Andros!" Cassie was beside him first followed by the other rangers. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine." Andros stood. "Fire on my signal."
"Right." They agreed.
"Satellite Stunner!"
"Lunar Lance!"
"Astral Axe!"
"Fire!"
The rangers fired their weapons at Darkliptor.
Darkliptor's laughter echoed through the smoke. "You didn't think it would be that easy did you?"
"It barely fazed him." TJ spoke first.
"We need help." Cassie stated.
"Right." Andros responded. "DECA, we need Ashley now!"
Megaship
"You're the Silver Ranger." Ashley whispered. She remembered Andros telling her about him. She also remembered that Andros said that the silver ranger almost died saving his life. What Andros hadn't mentioned was that the ranger was here on the ship.
Are you still there?
The voice caught her attention again. I'm here. Are you Zhane, the silver ranger?
Yes. Where am I? How did I get here? What happened?
What's the last thing you remember?
I was on KO-35. Ecliptor, he was attacking Andros. Andros! Is he okay?
"He won't be when I'm finished with him." Ashley muttered. Yeah he's alive. I'm gonna see if I can get you out of here. Hold on. She looked around for anything that would release him.
"Ashley!"
DECA's voice broke Ashley's concentration.
"What is it DECA?"
"The rangers are being attacked in Angel Grove Park. They need your help."
"Damn it!" She turned to Zhane. I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise.
Hurry please.
"Okay DECA. Let's Rocket!" Ashley was teleported where she was needed most, which happened to be right behind TJ as a quantron was about to hack into him. She blocked it easily and turned to face her teammate. "Need a hand?"
"Thanks." He caught a quantron coming from his left with a sidekick. Before getting into his defensive stance.
Ashley threw one quantron away from her and punched another. "Anytime."
"Ashley, TJ look out!" Carlos's warning came too late.
Darkliptor swung his sword at the two rangers sending them flying in different directions. TJ landed closest to the other rangers, leaving Ashley alone and vulnerable and the perfect target for Darkliptor.
"Ashley!" Andros shouted as he tried to fight his way through the quantrons that surrounded him, Carlos, TJ and Cassie.
Darkliptor closed in on Ashley. She stood prepared to fight, while looking for a way to get back to the others. She was able to block the first few attacks but Darkliptor was relentless. She dodged the first swing of his sword, but wasn't so lucky the second time.
The sword slashed across her chest sending her flying backwards and demorphing her, making the pain from the blow much worse than it would have been with the suit. She struggled to move away, dragging herself slowly backwards across the ground. The yellow tank top she wore was torn and she could fell the scratches on her legs from the sticks gathered on the ground.
"Yellow ranger, your end has come." Darkliptor lifted his sword.
Ashley could vaguely hear the screams of her friends in the background. There was nowhere to go. She doubted she could make it if there was someplace to run. Accepting her fate, she closed her eyes and waited for the blow that would take her life.
(A/N: Yay cliffhangers!! Let me know what you think. Please review.)