Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, Saban does and I'm not making any money off this. I'm just a poor broke college student:(
Author's Notes: This is the third in the Assignment series. Try to figure out how on earth I got away with calling this an essay and managed to get a 4.0 on the assignment. Ok. In the realm of the PR universe, this takes place early PRiS. The ex-Turbos haven't discovered Zhane yet and Andros hasn't found his sister yet. The story itself is exactly the way it looked when i turned it in; typos and all:) oh! and there is mild language warning. probably not enough to consider mentioning but just incase . . . forewarned;P
Andros sat in his room looking at a picture of his friends. These people he'd only me a few months ago had begun to work their way to his heart which had been a frozen desert for so long. He was frightened. How long will it be until I lose them too? He asked the air. He thought of Ashley who brightened up any room she inhabited. He could tell he was falling for her and tried to shut out his feelings. A rock feels no pain and I am alone. An unbidden tear came rolling down his cheek as memories of a former group of multicolored friends came to the surface of his thoughts. Am I fated to be miserable the rest of my life? Are my new friends my second chance at happiness?
Andros pushed all his worries out of his mind and went to sleep, and began to dream. . . .
"Andros! Andros! ANDROS!!" A familiar voice yelled.
Andros awoke to the sight of a young girl standing in front of him. It was Layira, his former girlfriend. But. . .but. . . Andros' mind was spinning. Layira couldn't be standing over him! She was dead along with Tiam, Michem, and Toyi! "What? What's going on?"
"What's going on?" Layira repeated playfully, "'What's going on' is your Day of Rite!" She pulled at him to get out of his bed. "Come on! Your late!" Layira said jubilantly.
Eventually he got up, only to find that his room was his old room back on KO-35. Nani yo*? He thought to himself.
"And no cursing on your Day of Rite!" Layira shouted back at him through the door. She'd left the room to allow him to dress when she was satisfied that he wouldn't return to bed.
"I promise I won't cuss anymore." Andros replied. He'd forgotten to shield his thoughts. Amazing how living with Earthers for a few months can make you forget about the telepathy of others.
****
"Andros, son of Kaifa. You stand before us as a child. When you return, you shall stand before us a man." Spoke Tiam, his late leader. All of Andros' childhood friends stood in a semicircle around the western gate of the city he lived. Everyone was clad in the dress uniforms of the warrior caste of which he belonged.
Andros walked up to his father, his head held high. He didn't quite know what was going on. He'd missed his Day of Rite a few years ago when Dark Spector attacked his homeworld; but he was determined not to let it show. He wasn't sure this was really a dream. Everything seemed so real. "Go my son, your destiny lies that way." His father pointed toward the doors leading out of the city.
Andros turned his head to look in the direction his father pointed, expecting to see the gate. Instead, he was on Astronema's Fortress. "Nani yo*" He gasped in confusion. At the end of the stark room, a large blue cylindrical chamber stood in the corner. The chamber look familiar somehow. "Zordon?" He gasped breathlessly.
Upon saying his name, a bald bluish white head appeared within the blue contents of the chamber. ANDROS. Zordon alloqued, WHAT IS IT YOU SEEK?
Confused, eternally confused. Andros answered the only way he could. "I seek to understand my destiny."
HOW CAN YOU HOPE TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU SEEK? Zordon replied calmly.
What's Zordon trying to say? Andros asked himself privately. Speaking allowed he replied remembering the words of a shaman, "My destiny is to bring peace." At least that was the best he could come up with from the mysterious man. He'd visited the world of Tolteca a few years ago, aimlessly wandering the galaxy after. . . . after all of his friends and family were killed by Dark Spector. Why should my destiny change now? Peace hasn't come yet, has it?
BUT DO YOU KNOW THE TASK YOU MUST COMPLETE TO ATTAIN THAT PEACE? ARE YOU READY TO EXECUTE THAT TASK EVEN AT THE COST OF YOUR OWN LIFE, OR THAT OF SOMEONE YOUR CARE DEEPLY ABOUT? Zordon seemed to be looking deeply into the soul of the young man.
A few years ago, Andros would have readily answered that question with a definite yes; but that was before he saw four of the best friends he'd ever had lying in a pool of blood from the view screen of the MegaShip. "I. . . I don't know." He hung his head in sorrow.
ANDROS. YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO SET THIS UNIVERSE FREE OF THE BEINGS WHOM USE THE DARK POWERS FOR THEIR OWN GAIN. THIS IS THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. Zordon paused a moment. WILL YOU SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO ATTAIN YOUR DESTINY? BE READY. . .
Whatever Zordon had been about to say was lost when Andros heard a battle cry. He turned around to find Astronema coming toward him with his Spiral Sabre. "KUSO*!" was all he could utter.
"Good-bye, brother!" Before Andros could make a single move, Astronema cleaved him clean in two with his own weapon.
****
Andros woke up screaming. He looked around. He was in his quarters aboard the MegaShip.
"Andros, are you in need of assistance?" inquired DECA, the shipboard computer.
"No, DECA. I'm fine." Andros responded. "There goes my night." He said under his breath. With that he left his quarters and headed down to the Engine Room. Going to one of the bulkheads he pressed it a special way and a secret door opened. The room was dark, the only light emanated from a cryochamber in the center of the room. Monitoring devices flanked the screen and let out a slow rhythmic beep. "Zhane." He said softly. "I know you'll only be a little while longer before you are all better. Then you can meet the new friends I've made. I think you'll like them. They remind me so much of the others that sometimes I want to cry. I haven't told the others about you yet. They'd ask how you ended up here. I don't think I'm ready to explain what happened yet." He sat there for a time, communing with his frozen friend.
A few hours later, he left the secret room and started his day with the other Rangers. He'd steal secretive glances at Ashley. He wanted so much to tell her how he felt, he'd been abandoned so many times in his life. He didn't think he'd be able to handle it if she rejected him too. For now his heart would stay as frozen as his best friend, Zhane.
****
"Thank you Hypnos." Eriene spoke. "I believe my champion would not have fulfilled his destiny had you not sent him the dream."
Hypnos bowed. "It was my pleasure. Someone has to direct the humans when they begin to shy away from their destiny." He smiled wryly. "Why did you choose such a fierce warrior as your champion?" He inquired curiously.
Eirene looked at him with unreadable eyes and an even more unreadable smile. "I chose him because it was his fate."
Hypnos looked away. "I had to ask."
NOTES:
La Forza del Destino- Latin meaning "The Forces of Destiny"
Nani yo- Japanese meaning "What the. . .?"
Kuso- standard Japanese curse. (like saying shit or damn)