Can't Let Go
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers.
signkat: Yeah, I like Ashley and Andros together. I can't see them with other people. Maybe I can see Ashley with Zhane. Lol!
CraneAndFalconForeven: I can see how you might have thought that, but rest assured it's not. The couples are pretty much already put together. You'll find out what Ecliptor and Darkonda are up to in this chapter. And sorry you feel that way because they are going to do just that. Andros gets heartbroken a lot but he'll be okay…maybe. Lol!
JasonLeeScottFan: I know, I kind of like Zhane and Ashley too. Andros does need to get his stuff together and fast. Right now I don't really care for Cassie, but don't worry about her, she'll be fine.
whiteranger: It wouldn't be right if they didn't. The team will be okay. They don't like to dwell on stuff.
CJS: Thank you! And thanks for updating. I thought about keeping them together longer, but I don't like drawing things out. And Ashley and Zhane were together for a month in the story time. Besides Andros probably would have become homicidal at some point. Lol!
Nippci: Omg…thank you so much! Lol! I'm really glad you like the story! It makes me happy that I'm writing it!
sunflowerlily: I thought it would be different to have Karone act that way. It's kind of funny. I like Zhane and Ashley too… I might even write a story about them, but Ashley and Andros belong together. There really isn't anything spectacular about how Cassie and Andros got together. Chapter one gives a quick overview, but that's pretty much all there is to it.
(A/N: So I have been thinking about how I'm going to end this story and somehow I ended up the beginning of a sequel. So at this point there will be a sequel, but don't worry, this story will have a definite ending, which you may or may not like. Please don't hate me. Lol!)
Chapter 9: Reprogramming
Cassie stormed through the corridor. She couldn't believe it. Andros had actually broken up with her. He claimed it wasn't about Ashley, but she knew that was a lie. She could feel the tears burning in her eyes, but she had refused to let them fall in front of Andros. She was so distracted that she nearly ran into Carlos and Ashley.
"Where's the fire?" Ashley asked teasingly.
She was the last person Cassie wanted to see. She pushed past Ashley.
"Cassie?" Ashley called, obviously hurt by Cassie's actions.
"Leave me alone. You've done enough." She turned the corner and continued down the hall.
"What did you do?" Carlos asked.
"I have no idea." Ashley thought hard to try and understand what could have set Cassie off.
"I'll go talk to her. Don't worry." Carlos took off in the direction Cassie went.
Ashley shook her head and continued down the corridor. She needed off of this ship… now.
Karone's room
She was somewhat surprised to see Zhane at her door. "Hey." She smiled as she let him in.
"Hey." He said shyly. "What's going on?"
"What do you mean?" She frowned slightly.
"You're really excited about something." He said laughing. "I could feel it as soon as you got back on the ship."
She smiled remembering. "Andros and I had the best time!" She exclaimed. "Have you ever had a cheese burger?" She filled him in on everything she did. "I got to play in the park! I know it's kind of childish, but I never really had a childhood."
"It's okay. I'd love to take you back if you ever wanted to go again." If it made her this happy, he would put on a dress and dance around the Megaship if she wanted.
"Really?" Her smile beamed, but it quickly faded. "What about Ashley?"
He hesitated. "She and I aren't together anymore."
She gasped. "But why? I thought you two were happy together."
"We still like each other, but just as friends."
"So everything's okay?" She asked hopefully.
"Everything's great." He watched her blue eyes shine. "So what now?"
She smiled at him. "Do you like ice cream?"
"Yeah, and I know the perfect place to get some." He was about to lead Karone out of her room when he felt a weird sensation. He looked at Karone and saw that she was frowning too. "Do you feel that?"
She nodded slowly. "What does it mean?"
"I think we need to find Ashley." Zhane grabbed Karone's hand as they left her room.
Cassie's room
"Leave me alone, Carlos." She stalked into her room, but couldn't shut the door before Carlos barged in. "What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand."
"What happened, Cassie?"
"You wouldn't care; you don't even like Andros anyway."
He could see the tears in her eyes and hated Andros for causing them. "So Andros is behind this. What did he do?"
"He broke up with me okay!" She couldn't fight the tears any longer. "He broke up with me." She said again between sobs.
Carlos gathered her into his arms and she didn't resist. He didn't like seeing her upset, but he was happy she wasn't with Andros anymore. Maybe now Cassie would be open to how he felt about her.
Outside Ashley's room
Andros knocked on Ashley's door but received no answer, he was about to walk away when Zhane and Karone rushed towards him.
"Have you seen Ashley?" Karone asked.
Andros could feel her and Zhane's panic. "No, and she's not in her room." He looked from Zhane to Karone. "What's going on?" Andros asked hesitantly.
"We can't sense her anywhere." Zhane answered. "We asked DECA where she was but Ashley commanded DECA not to say."
"Maybe she just wants to be left alone for a while." Andros suggested hopefully, because the alternative was something he didn't want to fathom.
"No, Andros." Karone answered. "She didn't pull herself away. She was cut off by something. We can tell she's alive but we have no idea where she is or if she's okay."
"DECA-" Andros started but was cut of by the AI's voice.
"There is an incoming communication. I have yet to trace the source."
"We're on our way to the bridge. Alert the others." Andros hurried for the bridge and knew Karone and Zhane were behind him. They were met in the bridge by TJ, Carlos, and Cassie.
"What's going on, Andros?" TJ asked. He looked around the bridge and noticed one of them was missing. "And where's Ashley?"
Andros ignored him. "DECA display transmission on screen."
"It's about time rangers." Darkonda appeared on screen. But what held the rangers' attention was seeing Ashley struggle in Ecliptor's grasp. "We have something that belongs to you." Darkonda gestured towards Ashley.
"And you have something that belongs to us." Ecliptor finished. One side of his face was covered with bolts and computer chips.
"Give us back Astronema and we'll return your yellow ranger in one piece. Meet us at Angel Grove beach within the hour." Darkonda hissed. "Refuse and we will kill her." He lifted his sword towards Ashley. "Oh, and no morphing. I wouldn't want you to do anything stupid and get your yellow ranger killed." The transmission ended.
"Ashley." Andros whispered.
"We have to go." Karone insisted. "You have to give me back to them."
"No." Zhane countered. "It could be a trap."
"It probably is a trap." Carlos agreed. "But we can't just let them hurt Ashley."
"He's right." Cassie stated urgently. She had been upset with her friend but this was the last thing she wanted to happen. "We have to save Ashley."
"Andros," TJ addressed their leader. "This has to be your call."
Andros was focused on the now blank screen. He hadn't moved since the transmission ended. Karone laid a hand on his shoulder. "Andros." She continued when he looked at her. "They won't hurt me, but they won't hesitate to kill Ashley. You have to let me go."
He shook his head. "I can't lose you again, and I can't let them hurt Ashley." His voice shook. "I don't know what to do. You can't ask me to choose between the two of you."
She took his hand. "I'm not asking you to. You won't lose me. You found me once and you can find me again."
Andros nodded slowly.
Karone moved to Zhane. "I guess I'll have to take a rain check on that ice cream." She tried to smile, but failed.
Zhane wrapped his arms around her. "Take care of yourself okay? Promise me."
"I promise." She pulled away and looked at Andros. "I'm ready."
Andros stood in front of his teammates. "DECA, teleport six to Angel Grove beach."
Dark Fortress
Ecliptor threw Ashley in a cage on the bridge. And went back to Darkonda's side. Ashley closed her eyes and pressed her head against the cold metal bars. She couldn't believe this. Just when she had thought things couldn't get worse, she had been ambushed on the beach. And to top it off, she had dropped her morpher when they attacked.
She opened her eyes and looked at Ecliptor. She remembered Karone saying that the monster had been like a father to her, but she couldn't picture it then and she definitely couldn't see it now. Darkonda had done something to Ecliptor. That machinery on his face didn't just appear.
She couldn't let Karone turn herself in. She had to find a way to get out of here. Any other thoughts of escape were interrupted when Darkonda spoke to her.
"Time to go yellow ranger."
Angel Grove beach
"Any sign of them?" Andros asked.
"Nothing." Zhane answered.
"Hey guys I found something." TJ called and picked the object up out of the sand. The others surrounded him. "I think it's Ashley's morpher." He handed it to Andros.
There was a flash of light before Ecliptor and Darkonda, who held onto Ashley, appeared before them.
"Wise decision rangers." Darkonda hissed. "Now send Astronema over and we'll send the yellow ranger."
Karone looked back at her new found friends before stepping away from them. She forced herself to believe that they would find a way to save her. Darkonda pushed Ashley forward when he saw Karone coming towards him and Ecliptor.
When Ashley and Karone stood side by side they looked at each other.
Don't worry, Ashley. I'll be okay. Karone insisted. She grabbed Ashley's hand. You're the best friend I've ever had.
We will come back for you! Ashley squeezed her hand.
"Get a move on." Darkonda called impatiently.
Ashley and Karone reluctantly let go of each other's hands and continued walking. Karone made it to Ecliptor's side before Ashley reached the rangers. Karone looked at her father figure and knew something was wrong. "Ecliptor?" She whispered. His only response was to wrap his hand around her arm.
Andros's heart beat rapidly in his chest as he waited for Ashley to reach him. She was less than two feet away when Darkonda's evil laughter filled the air.
"Stupid rangers." Darkonda laughed and pointed his sword at Ashley. An electrical current from his sword surrounded Ashley. She screamed and passed out in pain. The current teleported Ashley back into Darkonda's grasp before the rangers could do anything about it.
"Ashley!" Andros yelled. He watched in horror as Ashley lay limply in Darkonda's arms.
"No!" Karone tried to get to Ashley, but Ecliptor lifted her off the ground and held her tight.
"Like we would really give up an opportunity to be rid of the power rangers." Darkonda stated amused and looked at the girl in his arms. "If you want her back, you will surrender your morphers to me." He laughed again. "I'll be waiting for your answer." Darkonda and Ecliptor along with Karone and Ashley disappeared in a flash of light.
Andros dropped to his knees. His sister…and the woman he loved were gone.
Dark Fortress
Ashley and Karone were put in a cell together. Ashley lay on a cot as she was still unconscious. Karone turned and looked at Darkonda who loomed over her. "What did you do to Ecliptor?" She demanded.
"The same thing that I'm going to do to you in time." He paused smiling to himself. "Dark Spector and I agreed that you and Ecliptor were due for a little… reprogramming. It gives us some peace of mind. Dark Spector won't have to worry about you switching sides again, and I don't have to worry about Ecliptor taking one of the few lives I have left."
"Two to be exact." Karone spat.
Darkonda growled. He had been careless with his lives before, but he wouldn't make the same mistakes again. "Gloat while you can. Soon you'll be on the side of evil once more." Darkonda left the cell and made sure Karone and Ashley were locked up tight.
Karone turned to Ashley when she heard Ashley groan. "Are you okay?"
"I've been better." She let Karone help her sit up. "Please don't tell me we're back on the dark fortress."
"Okay. I won't tell you." Karone sat down beside her. "We have to get you out of here."
Ashley shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere without you." Karone had become like a sister to Ashley. She couldn't leave her behind. "Besides, I don't think I'm in the best shape to make it anywhere on my own."
Karone sighed. Ashley was right. Karone could only get her so far, and Ashley was too weak to successfully defend herself. "So what do we do now?"
Ashley sighed. "We wait."
(A/N: Who will help Ashley and Karone? Duh! But read the next chapter anyway. Hope you liked it. Please read and review.)