Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 18:04:51 -0600 From: Jolan Tru Subject: "Never Know What You're Missing" Parts 1-3 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Never Know What You're Missing" is a follow-up to the previous story "In Practice". Same characters, just expands on the budding relationship between Carlos, Zane and Andros. A short amount of time has passed since the end of the last section of "In Practice". Power Rangers, Power Rangers in Space, Power Rangers Turbo, AlienRangers, and all characters from the series are trademarks of and copyright by Saban Entertainment. I welcome comments and suggestions. Send to marik_jol@hotmail.com. Thanks, Jolan Tru ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Never Know What You're Missing..." Part One "Its oh six hundred Carlos, time to wake." DECA said as the ships AI turned the lights on. "Damn," I said as I scrambled to override the settings so Andros can continue sleeping. He stirred slightly. The lights were off finally. I had set them to dim so I could get dressed. I was in my skivvies. I reached over to grab my black, skin tight under suit that I wear under my uniform. Slid it on, looking at my legs and noticed they were shaping up. Those workouts with Andros and TJ have paid off. "Workouts" I mused, allowing myself a private evil grin. There was a rubber band laying on the nightstand. I fastened it into place. I stood up and looked in the mirror. Damn, I should just wear this. I lowered my eyes to the outline of my package. Nah. I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door. Right down the hall was the synthetron. I punched up a cup of coffee. I took a sip and turned around to chose a seat nearby. It was early, no one else was awake. I usually woke before everybody so I could have a little quiet time to myself. My thoughts roamed as I sat there drinking my coffee. I thought of Andros and Zane. It has been a year since we got together. And what a wonderful year it has been. A little rocky here and there. Astronema has not made it easy. And Andros and I had to work through some of our eccentricities. It has been hardest with Zane gone. He was helping refugees from KO-35 win their freedom. He could not stand back and let that happen. He would come and visit us every so often but Andros and I need him. He is like the other leg on a chair without it the other's are wobbly. The other rangers have been extremely patient with us as we went through this. Especially Ashley, she had a crush on Andros for the longest time and Andros and I wound up together. Ashley and I talked shortly after we got together. It was long overdue. She was very cool and distant from me after she found out. _====_ It was late one night and I was giddy from a recent romp with Zane and Andros. We were so perfect together. I loved them. The sex was great and who would believe, me of all people...in a relationship with a guy... much less two. I was wondering what mom would say. She could understand me with one guy but the fact of two may be too much. I played through a scenario in my head as I walked the corridors. "Hey mom," I said. Zane and Andros were right behind me. "I would like you to meet Zane and Andros. They are my husbands, oh and just one other thing they are aliens." I would hear a gasp and a thump as she faints dead away. I grinned in spite of myself. One day I am going to have to cross that bridge. I rounded the corner that lead to the simulator. I noticed it was running and Ashley stood there by a pool table with a cue resting in her hand. She stood there resting her chin on the cue. She looked distractedly at the table. The balls were cued but nothing else was done. How long had she been standing there I wondered? "Hey Ash," I said in greeting. "What'cha up to?" I must have startled her for she jumped a bit. "Oh Carlos, hi what are you doing up so late." Her eyes were slightly bloodshot. "Just walking around. Too much energy. I figured I would let Andros and Zane sleep." I said looking back the way a came. A look came over her as I said Andros' name. Ah. I thought to myself. "Ash is something wrong?" She bit back a sharp "no". "Ok, ok I will just go back the way I came." I knew what was eating her. We should have discussed this sooner. But I was caught up in the rush of the psycho rangers and my "marriage" to the two big lugs. I stopped at the door. "No, Ash. I know what is wrong. You are a little bitter. About Andros and I being together." I reached for her hand. "Believe me I had no intention of taking him from you. I never considered this possibility till he and Zane came to me. I figured you two were you know..." I stopped to let her say something. "No," She said softly. " I am not bitter a little hurt and broken hearted. Though." She must have saw the guilt in my face. She pulled my hand up to her chest. "No, no. You don't have to feel bad. I am happy for you. Just I feel a little foolish though. I had a feeling that something was up with him. I figured he wasn't responding to me because of cultural differences. I do have to say I tried....oh, I tried." She paused giving me a slight grin. "But...oh well. What is ...is. I don't feel bad towards either of you. Just a little surprised. When you three began your affair, Cassie came to me and said she thought something was up. I told her she was imagining things but deep in the back of my mind I knew she was right. And then you came to the bridge and told...no showed us. I was happy for you. I have never seen you happier. Andros has taken fewer risks. Even Zane seems more..I don't know. So don't worry. I will survive." "You sure? Your not just saying that." I queried still not sure. "Yes...." She said popping the cue stick on the floor. "Want to play some." "Yeah...", I looked over to a cue on the wall and decided to try something that Andros had been teaching me. I cleared my mind and imagine me picking the cue up. The cue shook a bit. And flew to me and fell short. Landing with a loud crack. Ashley laughed. "At least I got to go toward me rather than ....." I said a little embarassed. Ashley leaned over to pick up the cue. She was still chuckling. She looked up and down at the balls on the table. One popped up and flew and landed in her hand. "Andros has been tutoring me too." She said with a conspiratorial grin. I grinned back. The awkward moment over for now. She reached up and touched the ear clip that I had on. "I have been meaning to ask Andros about his but I never did. What is it? I noticed all three of you wear one. I assume it has to do with your relationship." She said changing the subject. I hesitated for a second. I felt someone approaching. "It is a t'hyl'cha. Ashley you have been practicing, you are getting better." A voice said from behind us. I snapped my head back. Andros!! How long had he been standing there? He was leaning against the door facing. Ashley seemed nervous for a bit. "A t'hyl'cha?" "Yeah, ask Carlos." "I thought you were asleep." I asked walking over to him. "I was. But I felt that something was bothering you so I got up to come see what was up." Andros said rubbing his eyes. "Ash and I were just talking." I paused for a second. " Oh Ash the t'hyl'cha is the KO-35 version of a wedding ring." I turned to Ashley to answer her question. "And you kept it a secret that you got married. Tsk...tsk." She scolded as she rounded playfully on Andros. He smiled. "Hey not my idea. Blame Carlos." "Hey, so much for loyalty." I said popping Andros in the arm. I took a second to formulate my response to Ashley's unspoken question. "At the time we joined I was still a little uncomfortable about it. And as time went by I began to take it naturally and just never really thought about telling anybody." I looked at Andros sheepishly. "Well you know I am going to have to tell everyone now.....you turkey." Ashley said looking a bit better. "When will I have some nieces and nephews? Hmm." This time it was Andros' turn to shift slightly. We each took a turn at letting Andros kick our ass at pool. After Ash's and I talked things were a lot better between us.. _====_ I woke from my reverie as TJ walked in. He stepped to the synthetron, called up his usual bacon and eggs with extra ketchup. "Hey TJ" I said. "Hey Carlos, up early again I see." He said sitting down. "Yeah as always." "Where is Andros?" He asked. "Still asleep I think." I stopped a second to check the flame in the back of my mind. "Yep still asleep, though fixing to wake." I sent him a mental nudge to wake up. I received a very sharp and expressive response that made me chuckle. "He'll be here shortly.", I told TJ still chuckling. Just as I said that Ashley walked in. "Hey guys." In unison, TJ and I said. "Hey Ash sleep well." Ash chuckled and TJ looked at me and grinned. I high fived him. We still have it. I took another sip of my coffee, when I felt a light wave of nausea come over me. Not bad. Just enough to be uncomfortable. I put my coffee down and looked down at it. Enough for today it seems. "Ash ready for school today." I asked. "Yeah, a test in biology but nothing heavy. How about you?" Ash said as she sat. "Not much, a usually boring day. After school I am going to see my mother." I said taking another sip of the coffee I said I would have no more of. "Your mother? Umm hate to bring this up. But have you told her about Andros and Zane." Ashley said taking a bite of toast. "No and that is a lot of the reason I am going today. To try to prepare her for Zane and Andros. I think I am going to tell her I am with a man. And take it from there. What ya think?" I asked. "Well who knows. Anything is better than nothing." TJ said. "Yeah....." I said trailing off as another wave of nausea hitting me this time it must have registered on my face. "Carlos, you ok." TJ said placing an arm on my shoulder. "Yeah," I said shaking my head slightly. "For some reason I am a little dizzy. I'll be fine." I said getting up and going over to the synthetron. A sharp burning pain hit me at the temples and behind the eyes. I staggered and the pain hit me again. This time it was worse... ten times worse. I screamed and everything went black. "Zane!!!!!!!!!!!!" --===-- On another part of the ship, Andros was getting dressed. He put on his jumpsuit and ran a brush through his hair. He chuckled to himself. Carlos just had a way of waking him. As he exited his quarters, he literally ran into Cassie. "Hey sorry." Andros said. "Ah no prob. Sleep well." Cassie asked. "Very...Once Carlos let me get to sleep. You know he is very hyper at times." Andros said not realizing what he said. "I would not know." Cassie said jesting. "The other women on this ship never had a chance. You fluttered your eyes at him and he was all yours." Andros blushed. Cassie ran an arm under his and the continued to walk on. "Andros, when are you going to tell the others that you , Zane, and Carlos are married." Andros came to a grinding halt. And turned to her. "Well," He said having some idea what Carlos told TJ and Ashley . " I figured with as small as this ship is, it would get around quickly." "Well you would have to get up earlier than that to get anything past me." She said winking. Andros and Cassie were on their way to the mess hall. Andros felt a wave of nausea hit him. Light and got worse. He must have tensed visibly. "Andros you ok. You just wobbled and tensed." Cassie said as they stopped. Andros rubbed his temples, " I'm fine...just need to eat." They walked further. The nausea came back and did so with a searing fire that blazed through his mind. The pain began at his temples and behind his eyes. He fell against the wall. Then the pain of two minds hit him. He screamed. "Zane!!!!!" Cassie caught him as he slid down the wall. Little did Cassie know that at the same time Carlos screamed and crumpled. _====_ "Zane!!!!!" The name rang through my mind. I floated in a non waking state. I instinctively opened my mind to try and find Andros and Zane. Andros was there, but Zane's purple flame was almost gone. Wavering and weak. I tried to open my eyes. The lights hurt them. "Carlos, Carlos. Its ok. You are in the infirmary." A voice said. Sounds like TJ, I thought to myself. I tried to sit up. But a strong pair of hands held me down. "Lay down. You need to rest. You took a nasty fall." I gathered the strength to talk. "Where is Andros? Zane?" I said as I reached and felt of the knot on the back of my head. "Andros is in the bed next to yours. Zane I have no idea." Cassie said looking at the read outs. "Carlos can you tell us what happened?" Cassie said. "I was a little nauseated, got dizzy and a pain unlike any I felt went through my mind. And...Zane! There is something wrong with Zane." I said trying to sit and this time they let me slowly. I looked over at Andros. I felt for him in my mind. He was there, fixing to wake. "Guys, Andros is going to wake and he is going to wake violently. So be careful." I said, barely audible. And he woke alright, with a vengeance. He sat upright and swung his legs off the bio bed. Ashley had no way to stop him. "Zane!!! Carlos!!!" He yelled as he fell to the floor. "TJ get him." I said trying to get up myself. I knew I would suffer the same fate. TJ gently grabbed one of Andros' arms and helped him regain his balance. Andros started to regain his control. He had remarkable recuperative abilities. He still walked with assistance over to the bed I was laying in. No words were said. No words were needed. He looked me in the eyes and we both knew what had happened to Zane. "What is going on?" Cassie demanded. She was a swift cookie. Andros started to explain. But I butted in finally understanding. "Something happened to Zane. I don't know what." At the look of confusion in their faces I explained. I looked at Andros. He nodded. "Andros, Zane and I share a common bond. Not a figurative one, but a ......" I was struggling to find the right word. "Psychic one. We can communicate, know what each feels, hear what each hears and so on. We also know when one is hurt or...." I trailed off. They looked to Andros and he confirmed it. "The only thing that could cause this much pain is a severed bonding. Where one of the members, is gone. And it can if not taken care of do the same to the other members of the group." I did not know that. But I knew something else. "He's not necessarily ....gone. There is a faint essence. Not much." "Great, there is some hope. We will go to the bridge and start searching. We will contact the colony and see if they know anything." TJ said heading for the door. Andros and I started to move to follow. "Nope you two stay here. We will go and take care of it for now." Part Two After Andros and I recovered a bit, we went to meet the others on the bridge. I was worried. Andros is worried too. He hasn't said anything at all for hours. Nothing mentally either. He immediately went to the main trace sensor. He is in shock. Hell, I am too. I tried to send a gentle nudge and all I got was a flash of his sister. Now I understand, his sister....now Zane. "Anything yet Andros?" I said as I reset my scanners. He did not acknowledge me. I thought to myself that this will help neither of us. The next mental message I sent would have been considered a yell and a shake. He turned to me and just glared. He had never did that before. "Andros, I asked for your opinion." I looked at him saying that verbally but telepathically I was saying. "Please don't block me out. We both care for him. I need you now as much if not more than you need me." "Carlos," he said verbally. "You won't understand. You never will." And this came out sharp and bitter. He was angry. He couldn't be angry with me.could he. I did not like being talked to in that tone. "Then make me understand. Let me understand." The next thing out of his mouth, I would never have thought he would say. "You can't...you aren't able to...your human." He spit the last word out. It was a blow. Like someone kicked me in the stomach. I wanted to run and hide. Just cry right then and there but I would not let myself. I just looked at him and the other rangers jaws were on the floor. I shook my head. I rounded on him many things going through my mind to say. I didn't say anything but I thought at him with all my force and will. "You selfish bastard." It must have been powerful because his eyes widened and for a second he looked like he knew what he just did. I don't know if he did. I left. I entered the lift. In the lift, I couldn't believe what had just happened. That was the most cruel and hateful thing that anyone could say or do. I was nearing my limit on being able to handle all this. Now I see how he felt. Did Zane feel the same way? I wondered. I didn't want to see him, and for that matter anyone else. "DECA....command lockout carlos-1. If any body wants to know where I am, tell them nothing. Until I countermand the order." I said as I walked a corridor. "Order accepted." DECA responded. _====_ Andros stood on the bridge looking at the air where I once stood. Cassie and Ashley looked on him with worry and sympathy. TJ though was seething. He rounded on Andros. He couldn't believe what he just did. He hurt one of the people he cared for most. "You cold hearted son of a ...." TJ started advancing on Andros, crossing the bridge with every intention of decking him. Cassie and Ashley intercepted him. "TJ this won't accomplish anything." Ash said. "I think Andros realizes what he just did." Cassie said glaring at Andros. Cassie looked at Ashley. "Continue scanning. TJ go find Carlos." For a second they just looked at each other. TJ gave Andros one of the dirtiest of looks. If he was a cat, his tail would be whipping back and forth. Andros stood there with his head in his hands. Cassie walked over to Andros. "Andros....Andros..." She said receiving no response. She shook him and got his attention. "Andros what were you thinking? I can't believe you said that. You hurt Carlos unbelievably. TJ was going to throttle you. And I was considering slapping you myself. I know you hurt. But that was uncalled for." He muttered a quiet. "Yeah...." "I need to go apologize or something. I was wrong and cruel. I have a very bad habit of speaking before thinking." Andros said. "Yes you do. Now get out of here and find him." Cassie said. " Now!" Andros looked at Cassie and noticed for the first time she was extremely intimidating when she gets mad. Andros got in the lift. "DECA location of Carlos?" DECA remained silent. "DECA was a lockout put on Carlos' whereabouts?" DECA responded, "Yes." "Damn I am a fool." Andros said to himself. "Yes." DECA said. He looked up at the speaker on the wall with shock. "I must have been a real fool for you to agree." Andros mumbled at DECA. Andros took a second to relax. He probed the link he had that was Carlos'. He is in auxiliary. Andros doubled back and took the lift down a deck. And stood in front of the door to auxiliary. He started to press the call button. When a message came to him. "What are you doing here? Figure a human needs to be watched or babied." I said sarcastically. Andros would have expected a bit of rage but it was not coming. It was carefully hidden. "Carlos," Andros thought back. "I am sorry. I did not mean that. This situation with Zane has me completely zonked." "Zonked...huh.....That is the most hateful thing anybody has done or said to me. I thought ...I don't know what I thought. I thought that you would be the last person to treat me that way." Carlos said softly. "Tell me does Zane feel this way?" "No, no he doesn't. I don't feel that way." Andros pleaded. "Please Carlos let me in.... I am sorry." The other end of the link was quiet. I stood there taking a breath trying to keep myself from crying. Half of me was very hurt and the other half wanted to open the door and slug him. I shook my head. I can't do that. I love him. I went to the door to unlock it. The door flew open. I stood there, he had tears in his eyes. Andros looked like he had killed his best friend. "I am so sorry. I cannot take it back ....please forgive me." Andros pleading, tears coming to his eyes. He moved toward me, reaching for me. I just stepped back. And stepped aside so Andros could enter. I turned around so he looked at my back. I sighed. I did not want him to see me this way. "Don't ever do that again. Don't ever say anything or block me out. I care for you too much and Zane too much. I know how it hurts with him gone and us not knowing one way or the other. But we need each other." I said turning around and drilling him with a determined look. He reached up to touch my nose and everytime he does that I have to laugh and grin. I tried not to. But failed miserably. I grinned slightly. He grinned. "Damn." I said not being able to stay mad at him. "Oh my," he said. "I need to tell TJ I found you. He was extremely upset over what I said. You know something here really cares for you Carlos." He paused. "Andros to TJ" He started. " I found him." Over the com TJ acknowledged. I went to sit in a chair next to a console. "Andros at the beginning of the relationship, I was hesitant to even consider it. I felt I could not be a full member of the relationship. You and Zane grew up together, you could talk to each other telepathically. I felt completely left out." I paused a second to catch my breath and change a setting on the console. "I learned later that I was wrong. And when I told you I wanted this to become permanent. I meant it. I have never been so sure of something in my entire life. I loved you and Zane and for the first time ever didn't doubt myself." I stopped to gauge his expression. He had a look of complete and utter guilt. "But up there on the bridge, I felt like a plaything, a child. Someone who could never be an equal and felt that being human was a liability." I said pausing while I adjusted a sensor again. Andros looked down and closed his eyes. "Carlos, I can't take it back but I really did not mean that. I let myself speak before I could think about it. Just...please I am sorry." He reached a hand toward me and laid it on my shoulder. I placed my hand on top of his and gave it a gentle squeeze. I stood up to face him. I grabbed him in the biggest, roughest bear hug and kissed him solidly on the mouth. We were interrupted by a sharp sound emanating from the monitor. I looked at the monitor and noticed a blip. I dropped his hand and swung around. He just looked at me. "Yes.....Well I have good news and bad news. I used the auxiliary sensors and found Zane." I said wiping away tears. "Great what's the bad news." Andros said looking eager. "He is not in this dimension or should I say universe." I responded. "The readings are very confusing." Andros and I had made our peace. We needed to talk further. But we were missing the other part of our soul. And we have to get him back. We were moving for the bridge. "What do you mean another dimension?" He asked. "I know its theoretical and some have accomplished it." "Yes, I know. But his signal was here and not here at the same time. I scanned for his morpher. Something I knew was unique to him and us. Well it showed up but I could not get a physical lock." I said as we reached the bridge. _====_ As we entered the bridge we were rewarded with some strange looks. I noticed some were a little harsh toward Andros and very angry. The feeling was a little dark. "Hey guys. Don't worry everything is ok? A little misunderstanding." I said putting a hand on the small of his back. They visibly let out a sigh of relief. "We have some good news and some bad news. We found Zane but we do not know how to get him back. He is not in this universe or more specifically this dimension." I explained. "I have heard of this happening. But have no idea what to do." Andros said sounding extremely down. Alpha, the droid that worked with Zordon for a millenia turned around. "Rangers there may be a way to help them. This has happened more times than I can count. The rangers prior to yourself had to fight Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa in one of those dimensions. Billy and I found a way to enter those dimensions. But the transponders were destroyed when the Command Center was destroyed. Astronema may be using one of Zedds forgotten dimensions." "Alpha do you think that with the equipment on DECA you can recreate the transponders." Andros asked. "Hmmm Andros...If Billy was here maybe. Hey I think I have an idea." The robot moved to the auxiliary controls. Punched up some schematics. I moved over to see what he was doing. They were schematics of our morphers. "Yes I can do it. But it will be dangerous. If you stay too long in the dimension you will not be able to come back. I need to make the changes to the morphers." Alpha said. Everybody stepped forward. Andros moved in between Alpha and the rangers. "Wait only some of us should go. We can't leave earth undefended should...." TJ said, " Your right. But who should go." Andros looked at me. I nodded understanding what he was thinking. I popped in. " I think what Andros is getting at, is Andros and I should go." They reluctantly agreed. Andros and I gave our morphers to Alpha. He started making the changes. He was fast at it. "Rangers, use this code to open the portal. Remember that you have at most two hours. After that I can't do anything. Good luck." Alpha said. "Thanks," I said eager to do something to find Zane. Andros looked a little pale. Even a little more worried, like he knew something I don't. We pressed the punch code and then all we saw was lights then a flash and nothing. Part Three The flash was blinding. My head swam. My body felt elastic and malleable. As the bright light abated, I began to feel as if I was coming back together. I could not see anything. It was pitch black. I began to get worried. I could feel someone near me. I could feel the heat from their body. I called out for Andros and for a few seconds didn't get a response. "Carlos over here." He said. "Hey that's big help. Can't see anything?" I said in response. "It's not dark in here. Your eyes are having a difficult time adjusting. Give it a second." He explained. It sounded as if his voice was moving. " Andros do you feel Zane. My link to him is a little stronger but still very fragile." I asked. My eyesight was just now adjusting. "Yes, it's a little stronger. But not by much." Andros said walking around examining the room we were in. I could see well enough now. I got up and straightened my half-coat. It was a little chilly. I was thankful for the tight undersuit I wear. Its thin but warm when need be and cool when need be. "I have a bad feeling." Andros said. He sounded real worried. "This place is familiar somehow. It is a very cruel place but I do not know why." "Yeah," I said. I pulled out my scanner and flicked it on. "I am getting some life signs. Many life signs none humanoid. Wait.....hold on." I said adjusting the scanner. "Yes, one life sign. Two floors above us." "Let's go." Andros said as he broke into a run. We had made it up to the next floor with no sign of resistance. But there was noise ahead. I could hear it. I motioned for Andros to be extremely quiet. We hid behind a pile of debris. We watched for some sign of the inhabitants of this structure. We did not have to wait long. We saw a bunch of guard droids. I was perplexed. This is not like an alternate dimension I have heard of. Suddenly, Andros sat heavily on the floor attracting my attention and a slight bit of notice from one of the droids. He had his head in his hands. I reached over to see if he was ok. And a pain, a pain of indescribable torture, ripped through me. I had to suppress a scream. Andros was gritting his teeth and shaking his head. I felt as if mine was going to explode. I heard Zane, he screamed and screamed. He sent a mental scream that seared one word, Nikkolo! As quickly as the pain started, it ceased. Andros lifted his head. There was fire in his eyes, a burning anger and hate. He lifted himself up and pulled his blaster. And started around the pile of debris. I tried to reach up to grab him but I was too late. He started firing at the droids and running like a banshee screaming at the top of his lungs. "Nikkolo....no.......!!!!!!!" _====_ At the same time back on DECA. Alpha was tracking the rangers through the other dimension. Running scans trying to figure out exactly which one it was. He was waiting for the final scan to run. There was a flash on his board and he punched it up. The information nearly blew neuro boards. He ran the check again. And again. He started shaking his head. "Oh my, oh my....oh dear, oh dear." His voice was panicked. Cassie was on the bridge manning the conn. She heard Alpha squeal and sound like the ship was crashing in around them. She turned to him. "Alpha, what's wrong? Is something wrong with Andros and Carlos?" She said getting up trying to get Alpha to calm down. "Alpha get control of yourself." "Nikkolo....." Was the only thing the little shiny robot said. For a second she wondered if his speech board fried again. But something gnawed at her, it sounded familiar. She turned to here station and queried the computer. What she saw made her stomach fall out. She nearly got so sick. She turned to Alpha. "That is where Andros, Carlos and Zane are." She paused. "Right Alpha." And the only response she got was a dull nod. Those three were in danger, grave danger. She read further. Pulled up all the information that the computer had. As she read she worried more and more. The information was stored in Zordon's private files that were salvaged before the explosion. "DECA get the other rangers up here, and get them here fast." Cassie commanded. Few seconds later the lifts opened. Ashley and TJ piled out at a dead run. "Are they back, did something happen?" Ashley said breathlessly. Cassie took a second to calm herself. "No, nothing yet but most likely something will. And there is a chance that none of them will come back. If they do, they may not ever be themselves." She paused. They both gave her incredulous looks. "What do you mean?" "Alpha found out which dimension Zane is being held in. And it's not good. He recognized it from a previous incident with prior ex-rangers. It is an evil place run by a sadistic evil man. The sadism he puts his prisoners through usually scars them for life. He enjoys......" Cassie paused no knowing how to put it. "sexually torturing is victims. He either sends them to the torture chambers or to what he calls the "pleasure" chambers. And it seems Zane was taken there. And now Andros and Carlos is there." Cassie was near crying and from the looks of it so was Ashley. TJ blanched. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked thoughtful. "Who were the rangers that were kidnapped Alpha?" "Tommy, Jason, Rocky, Adam, and Billy. Tommy and Adam were sent to the pleasure chambers. The others escaped before they met there turn in the chambers." Alpha said. "Now, I think I understand." TJ said. Ashley shot him a look. "Understand what?" "Remember sometime back. I think a year or two ago. Andros, Zane and Carlos went on the secret mission that they would not talk about. Carlos did mention some about it. Saying something about helping someone to deal with forthcoming difficulties. I remember Carlos mumbling in his dreams about Tommy. I wondered what he was talking about." He paused to collect his thoughts. "I assume the Tommy he was talking about was the former White Ranger." Comprehension showed on their face. Ashley was thinking out loud. "Carlos, Andros, Zane and Tommy they did....to.....and....." She blushed a deep crimson. "Oh my." "What's worse....Tommy was raped while he was there and ....infected with an organism that controls the individual. Firing up some passions and desires that get enhanced four hundred times over. And either the organism needs to be transferred similarly or the host will die. Tommy survived physically. Psychologically went through hell. Adam also was imprisoned with Tommy and it took years for him to get over it." Cassie explained. "Oh my. We need to go help them, warn them." TJ said pacing back and forth. "You won't have to." Alpha said. "What do you mean?" "Andros knows about Nikkolo. Once he figures out where he is he will know." Alpha said turning around to the console. The rangers just stared at his back. "How does he know?" TJ said dreading the answer. Alpha never turned around. "He and Nikkolo have met before." _====_ I was trying my hardest to keep up with him. But he raged. Blasting anything and everything in his path. We made corners and cross-shafts and finally reached a dead end. He beat his fists on the wall so hard they were bloody. His hair was a tangle and tears streaked his face. I walked over to see if I can calm him down and find out what is wrong. I laid a hand on his shoulder and received an elbow in the gut and he threw me over his shoulder. I was in total shock. He must have been running on a survival instinct. I tried to comfort and calm him telepathically. He would only respond with, if he responded at all, was "Nikkolo....!!!!". I have to calm him for his sake and Zane's. I moved up behind him and grabbed him so my arms wrapped around him successfully pinning his arms to his side. He bucked and tried to force me to release my hold. But I was able to get him to the ground and wrap my legs around him. I tried to say soothing things but he still fought. I decided to take my plight to a different level. "Andros, Andros calm down I am here." I projected telepathically. "No, get away from me." He yelled back and started struggling further. "Andros, its me Carlos." I projected thoughts of the three of us together. Memories of our first meeting. The looks he gave me. The moment I decided to join them. Zane cooking what turned out to be a horrible dinner and in the end we finally went to the synthetron. He started to calm. As he reached out to me mentally, it was with a force that I could not stop. He pulled me into his mind. I was reliving everything that happened to him here. There was a flood of emotion, anger, hate, hurt, indignation and fear which was the strongest of all. Now I understand his reaction. The torture, the madness, and the loss would drive anybody crazy. It was devastating. I could barely hold onto myself. I went through the torture with him. And through his eyes see the death of his and Zanes third. A young man, younger than me. His name....was Tobius. He died from the infection unable and unwilling to infect Andros. The hurt and the shock threw me out of his mind. I sat shaking and tears streaming down my face, the walls closing in around me. I had to take control of myself, for our sake. I slowly stood up using the wall as a crutch. I looked over at the still form of Andros. He was absolutely motionless. I got worried. Then he started to shake and cry. He was trembling. I loosened my grip on him so that all I was doing was holding him and rocking him. I pulled his legs up so that I cradled him. He cried for I don't know how long. I thought for a time on what I saw in his mind and what he told me about Tommy and Adam. He said something happened to them. And that we needed to go back in time to help them. I thought it was to prevent it from happening but no, we helped him to deal with it. Tommy had to be able to deal with it or the rest of the rangers would have suffered. Now it made since. Andros knew more than he told me and I think Zane knows too. Zane had violent nightmares. But would not talk about them. He must have lived the scene through Andros. Oh, god. What will happen to Andros now that Zane is? And if Zane.....? I threw that thought out of my mind as Andros stirred. His crying stopped. He lifted his head up. His eyes were swollen and he looked virtually vulnerable. "Carlos...." He said. His voice was a bare whisper. "Andros, shhhh. I am here." I said running my fingers through his hair. "I am sorry. I am so sorry. I should have told you. I should have known..." He said. "Shh, not now.....just rest. We will talk about it later. We need to find Zane." I said. "But what if Zane.... I couldn't handle this. Not again." He said retreating again. I grabbed him by the shoulders and sternly said "We will find him and get out of here." I only wished I could believe it too. "Zane is alive. His presence is stronger. Much stronger. But he is not conscious." I said. Suddenly a plea for help flashed in my mind and it must have went through Andros' too. He shot up standing erect and pointing directly at the wall. "There. He is on the other side of the wall." Andros said. "Yes," I said concentrating on Zane. I finally got a response from him. "How do we get it down." I said frustrated. There was a new fire burning in me. I was angered, furious at what my lovers have went through. It was smoldering. "I got it. Andros give me your blaster." He gave it to me I made a few changes and made the same changes to mine and laid them at the foot of the wall. "Run!!!" I yelled. We ran and luckily we made it far enough away. Due to the blast of the overloaded blasters produced shattered the wall. Once the dust settled we made our way back to the wall or at least where it stood. The light was dim, we could barely see. I scanned the room there was a bed on one side of the room and a wash basin on the other. But we could make out a figure, huddled in the corner. Bits of rock, dirt and blood covered figure. The figure was naked. It was Zane!!!! Zane looked as if he had been beaten and raped multiple times. I crouched down knowing who this shivering individual was. I extended a hand and when I touched his back. He jumped running to the other corner. I could feel his fear, hurt and the pain. I turned my head to see where Andros was. He was still back behind me his face unreadable. For a second I thought he was going to bolt again and fly into a rage. But instead he crumpled into a heap, fainting dead away. Oh shit, I thought. Now I started to worry. I looked at my chronometer. What was I going to do? Well the first thing I did was take my short jacket off and gently placed it over Zane's shoulders. He turned his head to me. His eyes...they had lost that fire and life. It was as if he wasn't there, he didn't even recognize me. "Zane," I projected from my mind. "Its Carlos I am here." He mumbled something. I couldn't understand what he said. I looked at Andros. I went over and picked him up and brought him over by Zane. He was breathing but barely. While I checked Andros, Zane turned his attentions to us. "Andros....Carlos" I heard, it was a bare whisper. "Yes...its us. It's ok. We are getting out of here." Though I wondered how. "Zane can you walk?" I said as I crawled over to him. He was silent a second. He swallowed. His eyes seemed to blank out a second. Finally he answered. "Yeeee.....sss barely." I helped him up. And bent down to pick Andros up in a firemens carry. "Let's go." As I made a step forward a figure coalesced in front of me. He had long black hair aristocratic features but evil eyes. He was handsome in a twisted sort of way. "Where do you think your going?" The figure said. "Home." I said bleakly. He wagged a finger. "No, your not." "Try me." I said pressing the button for the portal. It formed out of no where. I made a move toward it, Zane in tow. The figure moved in front of it. I was in no mood to mess with him. "Move !" I commanded. He grew dark and brought his glowing hands up. He was going to strike. And so help me I would not let him. I melded my anger, frustration, hurt, and every drop of energy into one try to visualize me pushing him out of the way. He flew against the wall his body making a resounding crack. I never even touched him. I didn't have to. I did not wait to see what happened we surged forward and into the portal we went. As I moved into the portal, things went awry yet again. Things were swimming and dull throb started behind my eyes. Everything went black yet again. To be continued......