If I Never Knew You

Part One

A shriek tore through her throat as Karone jumped up in bed, the afterimage of Dark Specter's eyes chasing her out of the dream world and into reality. Reality, where the former Princess of Evil lay trembling in her bed, her hands clutching the sheet that covered her thin form. She was in her quarters. On the Megaship.

Safe.

Yet the eyes still haunted her. Glowing red with anger as they stared at her... as Dark Specter stared at her, silently accusing her of betrayal.

Damn you, Karone thought, though she didn't know who she was referring to. It's been a week! Why won't you leave me alone? Why can't I stop dreaming?

Almost in reply, the door to her quarters slid open with a sudden swiftness that startled her, prompting another quick scream. But the moment she realized who was standing there, all her fears evaporated.

Zhane looked like he had just rolled off the bed and had run to her quarters in one fluid motion. He wore only a pair of dull gray shorts and was barefoot. His hair was in disarray, and his eyes, though alert and as dazzling as ever, seemed to be have a bit of dimness behind them. She had woken him.

He has a great body, Karone thought half-absently, then blushed as she realized he had noticed her checking him out.

"Are you okay? I heard screaming." His voice made the nightmare even less real.

Karone ran her hands through her hair, brushing it back while she marveled at its color and length. She was used to being able to change it whenever she pleased.

Still, she was glad she couldn't. When Dark Specter had fallen for the last time, all of her powers had gone with him. Although she still missed some of the little things, she was grateful that the taint of Dark Specter had been purged from her.

Or had it? The nightmares... she could still hear Dark Specter rumbling under his breath, saying something

(you are astronema princess of evil it's who you are the only thing you'll ever be you can't run away from her because she's you)

she couldn't quite make out. Maybe that was for the best.

"Karone?" Zhane asked again, stepping closer to the bed. She looked up at him and smiled wanly.

"It was just a nightmare. I'm okay." She tried to steady her voice in vain. Her fear was obvious.

Zhane frowned, sitting on the edge of the bed. Karone drew back almost unconsciously as she made room for him, but her death-grip on the sheet had loosened.

"Another nightmare? That's the eighth one in as many days," the Silver Ranger commented. "Do you remember what it was about?"

Karone opened her mouth to tell Zhane she had dreamt of killing him and Andros, of one-upping Divatox, of seeing Dark Specter's eyes inviting her back to the fold of evil, and she would return, oh yes, because it was her true nature, it was the person she really was inside, and she could try to fight and deny and resist but in the end she'd give in...

Karone almost told Zhane all these things. But instead she shook her head. "No. It's all a blur."

Zhane reached out and gave Karone a brief hug. For a split-second, the feel of his skin against hers made her nervous, but the warmth of his embrace quickly overrode that anxiety and she leaned into his arms, wishing she could draw on his strength to make the nightmares go away for good.

As the Silver Ranger drew away from her, he realized Karone was shaking. Her lips were quivering, and he could see tears in her blue eyes.

"What's wrong?" Zhane whispered, his voice hoarse. He suddenly understood that they were sitting on her bed with little more than a thin slip between them. One of the straps had slipped down her right shoulder, and it was a compelling sight.

"Nothing's wrong." Karone replied, her voice light as a breeze. She reached out and placed her hands on Zhane's chest. She could feel the heaviness of his breath and the intense pounding of his heart. "In fact..." she continued, leaning forward. "I don't think I'll ever feel more right in my life."

Their lips brushed against each other, a faint touch, but then both pushed forward and suddenly they were savaging each other with a primal hunger.

Karone had never before felt such a desire, had never even imagined such a sheer ecstatic pleasure as Zhane's arms wrapped around her waist. He fell back onto the bed, and she followed him, grinding against his body. She was almost delirious as Zhane held her, gently yet powerfully. Nothing else mattered now.

Karone's eyes slipped shut as Zhane's hands ran up her thighs. But as soon as her eyes were completely closed, she heard him again... Dark Specter, roaring

(he's a ranger rip his throat out i order you you're mine you'll do what i say just like always you've always obeyed me if i said kill you'd kill and now i'm telling you to kill him)

wordlessly. His eyes flashed as he raised a claw and pointed at her, his jaws moving but no sound

(kill him kill him tear his heart out he gave it to you anyway it belongs to you so you can take it you can rip it out of his chest and watch the life die out in his eyes you can do it just like ecliptor taught you)

coming out.

Karone screamed into Zhane's mouth, her eyes snapping wide open as she threw herself off the Silver Ranger, tumbling off the bed and landing on the floor.

And still Dark Specter's voice chased her, growling something

(he's in love with you he's a fool he doesn't know he thinks karone was inside astronema but we both know the truth astronema was in karone even when you were a little girl)

inaudible, his words just beyond the range of her hearing.

She crawled away from the bed, reaching for the door. If she could just get away... Zhane was calling out her name, a note of real panic in his voice now, but she couldn't hear him. All she could hear was Dark Specter's howls

(darkonda came to take you away you don't remember but you weren't afraid you screamed for andros but when you saw darkonda's face you knew this was your destiny you knew you didn't have to be afraid of him because you were going to be more evil than he could ever hope to be)

and the sudden, inexplicable sound of dripping water. The sound was steady: drip, drip, drip

(blood)

drip...

Something clamped onto her shoulder and Karone screamed again, convinced that Dark Specter had risen from his grave to show her the price of betraying him.

"Karone!" she heard a voice shout back at her, not Zhane's yet familiar nonetheless

(you're my sister!)

and Karone opened her eyes to see Andros kneeling next to her. There was genuine worry in his eyes as he looked down at her.

"Andros? What... what's going on?" she asked weakly, finally getting a look at the room. A small pitcher of water near her bed had been knocked over, probably when she had fallen to the floor. That was the source of the dripping sound. Zhane was standing behind Andros, his face slightly pale, but also a little flushed. Why would he be blushing?

Because your brother heard you screaming and walked in to see you two seriously out of uniform, silly! Karone scolded herself.

"I think she had another nightmare," Zhane said, coming closer to the siblings. Karone nodded eagerly, and Andros, with an expression of understanding, put his arms around her and held her... just like he used to when she was a little girl and suffered from "monster under the bed" nightmares.

As her brother held her, Karone looked at her hands, locked around the back of Andros' neck.

Then the voice was back, more insistent

(see your nails how nice and sharp they are look at his neck you can see the cartoid artery all it takes is one swift cut do as i say do it now i command it i demand it kill him RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW)

than ever.

Karone clenched her hands tightly. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands, penetrating the skin.

As Andros hugged her, blood dripped down her wrists and arms.

(RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW RIGHT NOW)

* * *

"Scan complete," DECA reported as Karone slowly sat up on the medical examination table.

"Well, what's wrong with me?" she asked, her voice cracking the slightest bit at the sudden, grotesquely real feeling that DECA was about to say something like "There is an enormous amount of evil energy in your body. Based on these readings I believe you are still Astronema."

She was so preoccupied with that thought that she almost missed what DECA actually said.

"You are apparently still under the effects of Dark Specter's reprogramming. Your body is being cleansed of the chemicals used to mindwipe you, but, much like an allergic reaction, they are causing you to experience mild hallucinations."

"Mild hallucinations..." Karone repeated, looking at her bandaged palms.

"So what's going to happen to her?" Andros spoke up, his relief evident in his tone.

"I recommend allowing Karone's systems to neutralize the drugs. Her bloodstream is already almost completely clean. I estimate that in 48 hours there will be no traces of the chemicals left."

"Maybe you just need some rest," Zhane suggested.

Karone yawned. She was feeling quite drained, but after all the craziness she had just gone through, that was to be expected. "Yeah... I think I'll go back to my quarters, sleep for a while."

"Good idea," the Silver Ranger agreed. "Come on, I'll walk you."

"Okay. Good night, Andros." Karone kissed the Red Ranger's cheek and left the infirmary, Zhane right beside her.

Andros watched Karone leave, a smile on his lips. He had never imagined that his sister would fall in love with his best friend. Still, he was grateful it happened. They were all a family now.

"Good night, DECA," Andros said, shutting off the lights.

* * *

The tapping of their footsteps was the only noise in the corridor as Zhane and Karone headed back to her quarters.

Karone shivered. The silence was unnerving. She had spent most of her life in places that had been as quiet as a tomb. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was all an illusion, that she was just sleepwalking on the Dark Fortress.

"Sure is quiet around here, isn't it?" Zhane commented as they passed several stripped and barren quarters. The other Rangers had lived here once, but after the Countdown, now two months past, the team had officially disbanded. After bidding a fond farewell, Cassie, Carlos, T.J. and Ashley had returned to Earth to live their lives.

The Megaship seemed so empty without them, so cold and sterile. Had it been like this for Andros? All alone, with no one to talk to but DECA? Had he wandered the halls like her, hoping to hear a voice other than his own? How long had he endured the loneliness?

"Karone?"

Zhane's voice pulled her out of her morbid reflections. "Hmm?"

There was a twinkle of humor in his eyes. "We're here. Unless you had another destination in mind?"

Karone paused, then grinned sheepishly as she realized she had walked right past the door to her quarters. "All these doors look the same," she laughed weakly, walking inside. "Come on in."

Zhane seemed a lot more nervous than he had earlier in the day. He gingerly stepped into her room, almost like he was expecting something to jump out at him.

"So..." Karone began, but paused. She smiled wryly. "I'm sorry, I'm not good at small talk yet."

Zhane grinned. "That's okay. I can handle... um... not-small talk." His smile was infectious, and soon Karone felt the corners of her mouth rise as well.

"DECA, dim lights."

The computer obeyed, and Karone, a teasing smile on her lips, beckoned Zhane to come closer.

The Silver Ranger complied and they embraced again, their lips meeting in a sweet kiss.

They were moving before she even realized it, and by the time she did, they were already on the bed. This time Zhane was on top of her, and suddenly there was hunger and desire and need again. Karone submitted to those feelings, letting her hands roam her love's body. Zhane's lips found her neck, and she couldn't help but arch her back a little, giggling in glee.

"You are so beautiful..." Zhane murmured, still tickling her pulse point with his mouth. "I should've done this the first time I saw you."

"I probably would've blasted your head off," Karone joked breathlessly, surrendering herself to Zhane's caress.

"I don't think so," Zhane chuckled. "After all, little girls never fight back."

Karone froze, her eyes widening. "W... what?"

The warm sensation on her neck ceased. "I said..." Zhane chuckled again, only this time it wasn't the usual warm, pleasant sound, but a harsh grating Karone knew all too well. Zhane's hands grabbed her wrists, pinning them to the bed, and the Silver Ranger reared up so Karone could see his face.

"LITTLE GIRLS NEVER FIGHT BACK!" Zhane roared, his face suddenly warping and twisting into something straight out of Karone's worst nightmares.

"NO!" Karone shrieked as Darkonda lowered his head and roughly crushed his mouth to hers. She could smell his foul breath, and the thought that she was kissing this monster made her sick to her stomach.

"YOU'RE MINE, LITTLE GIRL!" the bounty hunter laughed, grabbing the hem of her nightgown and pushing it ever so slowly up her legs.

Karone screamed, knowing this monster was going to violate her again, this time in the worst way it could. But no, she wouldn't let that happen. The beast had taken too much away from her... nothing more would she give him.

Relying on reflexes which hadn't been there since before the Countdown, Karone sharply brought her knee up into Darkonda's stomach. He doubled over and Karone punched him in the face twice, then planted a leg in his chest and pushed, throwing the beast off the bed.

Darkonda rolled to his feet the moment he touched the floor and looked straight at her. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" He laughed that horrible laugh, and Karone felt the righteous anger again. This obscenity had taken her identity away from her, had stolen her from her brother, her life, her world... and she'd never know why.

"I HATE YOU!" Karone cried, jumping off the bed and kicking him squarely in the chest. Darkonda fell backwards, hitting the wall. Karone got as close to him as she could, and with the fingers of one hand bent into a claw, she lashed out at his face, leaving four horizontal cuts on Darkonda's cheek. The monster howled in pain as black blood welled up in the wounds.

Yes... she'd get her answers if she had to rip his heart out and feed it to him.

Darkonda pushed her away, but she came at him again, her fists raised. She punched him once, twice, three times, each time feeling the sensation that this was right, this was how it was supposed to happen.

The demon shoved her a little harder this time, and as Karone fell backwards onto the bed, she wondered why he wasn't actually hitting her.

But that wasn't important. Her left hand, the one unstained by blood, had somehow worked its way under her pillow. Her fingers touched something cold and metallic, and she desperately grabbed it.

Karone, clutching the object tightly, rolled backwards and scrambled to her feet, the bed now between her and her attacker.

"Karone!" Darkonda bellowed, eyes flashing red. He took a step towards her and abruptly froze, his eyes riveted to her left hand.

Karone tracked his gaze to the object she was holding, and when she realized what it was, a sudden wave of vertigo crashed into her. It was her k'lothos, the curved blade she had always had at her side when in battle gear. The boomerang-shaped weapon gleamed in the dim lights.

Karone's eyes turned back to Darkonda, and a sudden, chilling grin lit up her face. Her grasp on the k'lothos tightened. For a moment there was uncertainty. It had been so long... did she even remember how to use it?

Only one way to find out.

"Goodbye, Darkonda." Karone's grin widened as she pulled her arm back. Narrowing her eyes, she threw the k'lothos as hard as she could towards the wall.

The blade spun in a blur as it left her hand. It ricocheted off the wall, then continued on a new trajectory, straight for Darkonda. He saw the k'lothos coming and threw himself backwards, but was suddenly up against the wall. The k'lothos flew by, slashing across the creature's stomach. It bounced off another wall and returned to Karone, who, with incredible ease, caught it one-handed.

The bounty hunter stumbled, arms wrapped around his stomach. His wound oozed with dark blood that dripped onto the floor. The light in his eyes flickered, but there was still life in that hellspawned monster.

With a roar that defied definition, Karone nimbly leapt over the bed and threw herself at Darkonda. She knocked him to the ground, and as they grappled, she remembered a quaint little move Ecliptor taught her. Locking her legs around Darkonda's waist, she rolled herself atop him and raised her right hand, holding the k'lothos in a grip so strong she couldn't even feel her fingers.

Karone brought the weapon down, but the stab was deflected by Darkonda's flailing arms. But Karone was relentless. She brought it down again in a maddened frenzy, and this time it passed through Darkonda's guard, penetrating his shoulder. He let out a howl of pain as she brought the weapon down again, slicing his forearm deeply.

Darkonda's head fell back and he suddenly ceased to fight. Karone, panting from the rush and exertion, relaxed. She felt vindicated. Maybe it was finally over now.

Warmth trickled down her hands, and Karone realized the k'lothos and her nails were probably covered with Darkonda's filthy blood. She raised the weapon to the light, and for a moment she was surprised at the blade's crimson color. Hadn't it been black when she threw it?

She looked down at her hands and her eyes widened. The blood, Darkonda's blood, wasn't black anymore. It was red. But that was impossible. Darkonda bled black. She knew it. She had seen it, on the Dark Fortress, and even now as the k'lothos cut him...

Her heart gripped in a hand of ice, she looked down. Someone was under her, but it was not Darkonda. She couldn't clearly see him because of the deep shadows cast by the low lights.

Her hands steady on the k'lothos, she called out in a trembling voice: "DECA, lights!"

The computer complied and the room was filled with bright light, banishing every shadow. And Karone let out a long, loud cry.

Zhane was lying on the floor, covered in his own blood. He was pale and still, and his eyes were closed.

* * *

Karone grunted as the creature kicked her in the stomach again, forcing her to her knees. Striking out with her k'lothos, the Karovan scored a hit on her attacker's leg. Purple blood gushed from the wound, hissing as it touched the floor.

As the beast backed away, howling in pain, Karone rolled to her feet and threw the k'lothos at the near wall. To her annoyance, the weapon struck the rock and fell, clattering uselessly on the mist-covered floor.

Karone cursed. "DECA, pause simulation!"

The computer complied, and the Lupinus monster froze. The walls of the Simudeck became visible beyond the background.

Karone walked over to the k'lothos and picked it up, glaring at it. "Work, dammit!" she growled, banging the tip of the blade against the rock. "You were fine with almost killing Zhane, weren't you? Is that it? You only work when I'm doing something wrong?"

Agitated, she struck the wall with the k'lothos again and looked up at the ceiling. "Well, I'm not giving you a choice. DECA, disable all safety protocols and run program Andros: Calisthenics-Four."

"Warning: Disabling safety protocols may result in severe physical injuries," the AI, ever-helpful, pointed out.

"Do it," Karone ordered, raising the k'lothos at the ready.

The Lupinus faded and was replaced by twenty pink-clad Craterites. With a wild battle scream, Karone charged, sweeping the weapon back and forth, cutting into any Craterite that approached her.

"Come on! Work!" Karone threw the k'lothos at one of the drones, but the blade bounced harmlessly against its chest and fell to the floor. Karone lunged, rolling under that same Craterite and grabbing the k'lothos. With a sharp upward slash, she dissected the creature vertically.

Before she could get to her feet, however, a powerful kick connected to the back of her head. Stars exploded in Karone's vision as the world reddened and began spinning all at one.

The Karovan collapsed, and the Craterites, like sharks drawn to blood, surrounded her.

"Karone!" a male voice yelled, and to her shock, a knight in white armor, just like in Earth fairy tales, came to her rescue. Only the knight's armor wasn't white. It was silver, and he had a blade attached to his arm.

As Karone lay on the floor, trying to regain her equilibrium, Zhane jumped into action. His Super Silverizer cut into the horde of Craterites, sending them into oblivion.

"DECA! End program!" the Silver Ranger ordered. Just as another wave of Craterites materialized, they vanished in a shimmer.

Zhane was kneeling by her side an instant later. "Power down!" he shouted, demorphing. As the Silver Ranger uniform melted away, Karone's eyes widened. Now she could really see what she had done to him.

The medical units had focused most of their attention on Zhane's most serious injury, his stomach wound. The gash had been sealed, but there was still a long, twisted scar where the k'lothos had cut him open. His skin was chalk-white due to the loss of blood and it looked like kneeling was causing him great pain. His shoulder and forearm was bandaged, and blood still leaked out of the corners.

The other minor scratches and bruises were faded somewhat, but Karone could still see them and with horrifying clarity remember precisely how she had caused them. She could still see the proof that she had almost killed her brother's best friend, the man she loved, with a weapon that wasn't even supposed to be on the Megaship. A weapon that was a part of Karone's past, a part she wanted nothing more to do with.

But I thought it was Darkonda... she tried to convince herself. I was having another hallucination. I didn't try to kill Zhane. I tried to kill Darkonda.

Despite her logic, a small nagging voice, somehow reminding her of Elgar, answered her. "What happens the next time you hallucinate? You'll see someone else instead of Andros or Zhane, only this time you won't just stab them, you'll snap their necks or strangle them, or cut their heads off..."

"Hey, Karone!" Zhane touched the former Princess of Evil on the arm, startling her back to reality.

"Zhane... Gods, are you..."

Zhane nodded, interrupting her. "I'm fine. Did they hurt you?"

Karone shook her head quickly, using old techniques Ecliptor had taught her to banish the pain from her mind. Strange, how there still was something of Astronema in her. She hated that.

"C'mon, let me help you up." Zhane stood, reached down and pulled Karone to her feet.

"Zhane, I'm so sorry..." Karone began, but he placed a finger on her lips, silencing her.

"It was an accident." Zhane looked down at his feet, then back at her. "Karone... we need to talk." He paused for a moment, then craned his head upwards. "DECA, run program Zhane: Personal-Seven."

The Simudeck immediately transformed into a very familiar place. It was this place that changed Astronema's destiny forever, the place where the Princess of Evil had felt something other than Void for the first time.

The park. Where she met Zhane.

"Maybe you should sit down." Zhane's voice was thick with tension, and Karone had a sudden premonition that he was going to tell her he never wanted to see her again.

The thought forced Karone to sit on a boulder as she contemplated life without him. It wasn't a very attractive prospect.

Zhane cleared his throat and began. "Karone... we've known each other... well, not that long, really, but our relationship's had its ups and downs... It's been a wild ride the whole time." Karone couldn't help snorting at that blatant understatement.

He smiled weakly at her reaction, but immediately looked down again, unable... or unwilling... to meet her eyes. "Being with you has been... incredible. I've never felt this way about anyone. But..." Zhane ran a hand through his hair, searching for the right words.

"Sometimes I feel like there's nothing constant about us. I keep... worrying that the smallest thing can tear us apart, and the last thing I want is to hurt you."

Karone clenched her fists, trying her best to remain stoic.

Zhane dropped to one knee in front of her and pulled a bracelet out of his pocket. "Karone, will you marry me?"

It took a moment for Zhane's words to sink in, and when they did, Karone was so startled that she slipped off the rock, landing ungracefully in front of him. Zhane waited patiently, his lips curved in that irresistible smile, the smile that could melt even the coldest hearts.

She reached out to take the bracelet, and by doing so accept Zhane's proposal, when her eyes fell on a small red mark on the back of Zhane's hands. She knew that mark. She had caused it.

"I... hurt you." Karone whispered, and the realization was clearer now than ever. She looked up into that face, that sun-bright face that had captured her dreams and desires the moment she had laid eyes on him, and it was like she was seeing him for the first time since.

His skin wasn't the same fair shade it had been in the park that day. It was deathly pale because of the blood he had lost to her. His handsome features were marred by the blows she had landed on him. He was in pain.

Karone's hands suddenly jerked away from the bracelet like it had burned her.

Zhane's smile wavered. "What is it?"

"I... I can't." she stammered, shaking her head.

Zhane edged closer to her. "Why not?" he asked gently. He wasn't mad at. She had just rejected him and he wasn't even upset. By the Gods, what had she done in her "life" as Astronema to deserve him?

Nothing. That was the problem.

Karone struggled to explain. "Us being together... it's not right. It won't work out."

The Silver Ranger chuckled mildly. "I'm willing to take that risk."

"Well, I'm not." Karone replied. A thought then occurred to her, a thought that made her physically ill. But she fought the nausea.

"In fact, m... maybe you should st..." For a moment she choked on the words, a part of her wailing frantically to reconsider. But she refused to turn back.

"Maybe you should stay away from me."

There, she said it. No taking those hurtful words back. She felt lower than she had ever imagined, but there was a strange relief mixed in the despair.

Now Zhane's loving expression had faded entirely, replaced with complete astonishment.

"W... what?" he stammered, totally caught off-guard. He regained his composure much sooner than she expected. "No," he denied, shaking his head. "No, you can't make that decision on your own."

Karone sighed sadly. It was getting easier. She just put herself on auto-pilot and let the words come. What was it Ecliptor had taught her? "Don't think. Don't feel. Just act."

"Yes I can."

Zhane stood and looked down at her, his eyes wide with hurt. "So that's it? It's over?"

Karone fixed her stare on the scar that disfigured his stomach. She could do this, she could take the angry words and anything else he could dish out... but if she looked into his eyes, she knew she would lose. And this was a battle she had to win. For Zhane's sake as well as hers.

"That's right. It's over." Karone answered, getting to her feet while keeping her gaze on his wounds.

"But I love you!"

Something froze inside Karone. Just seconds ago she had thought she could withstand anything. But those words... the first time he actually said them... weakened her resolve. Maybe there was another way. Maybe they could make it work. He loved her...

And she loved him. That was why she was doing this.

"I can't do this anymore," she explained. Her exterior was cool and still, like a glacier, while on the inside she was thrashing around in pain. But she couldn't show it. He'd find a way to convince her things would be all right, and she would believe him even though she knew it wasn't true.

Don't think.

"No." Zhane shook his head. The bracelet was forgotten, its ends dangling from his clenched fist. "No, I don't accept that!"

Don't feel.

"You have to." This was too much. She hadn't planned any of this beforehand... she never considered the anguish it was causing her. Karone tried to run for the exit, but Zhane was quicker than her. He reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her around and forcing her to face him.

"Don't walk away from me! We're not finished yet!" he shouted. "You don't care anymore?"

"We're through, Zhane! Now let me go!" Karone yelled back, trying to pull away from him.

Zhane pulled her closer, and she could feel his desperation. "Then tell me you don't love me! Say it!"

Tears were running freely from Karone's eyes, but inside her, she could feel a familiar, icy calm that she knew quite well.

For the first time since the battle on Yotoba, Karone willingly embraced the persona of Princess Astronema. The strength of will. The control...

Don't think.

"All right. If that's what you need to hear, then fine." She locked eyes with him, resisting the power of his gaze. "I don't love you, Zhane."

On the outside, Astronema faced Zhane defiantly, her face expressionless, revealing nothing. On the inside, Karone felt her world crumble.

As for Zhane, the change in him was slow but obvious. He released her arm numbly, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Without a word, he stepped away from her, probably unable to believe this was real.

Turning on her heel, knowing that her sobs wouldn't be bottled up much longer, Karone turned on her heel and strode towards the door.

"I wish I'd never met you."

Zhane's voice was strangled with grief and shock, but Karone heard him all too clearly.

Don't feel.

Something inside her suddenly rose to life, like a beast awakened. Karone tried to push it away or smother it or do something, but she was powerless against it.

Just...

Karone quickly spun around and threw a hand out at Zhane, her fingers outstretched. Her eyes narrowed in concentration... her mind... reached...

...act.

And suddenly there was clapping behind her.

"Very nice! For a moment there I wasn't sure you had it in you."

Karone didn't even have to think. The speaker's voice was as familiar as her own.

Because it was her own.

Dreading what she knew was there, Karone steeled herself and turned back to the door. She wasn't disappointed.

Standing in the archway was Astronema, Princess of Evil. She was wearing the black vinyl bodysuit that showed off her curvaceous figure, and wavy purple hair flowed over her shoulders, decorated with glittering jewels. A perfect replication of her appearance the day she first attacked Earth.

"Zhane?" Karone whispered, edging away from the image before her. But Zhane didn't answer. Risking a quick glance at him, Karone saw, to her horror, that the Silver Ranger was still staring at the doorway, totally motionless.

Frozen.

"Oh, relax, Karone," Astronema chuckled, leaning against the doorjamb. "You stopped time. Or rather..." the Princess tilted her head to emphasize. "We stopped time."

"Stopped... time? How?" Karone stammered. "Wait a minute. This isn't real. You can't be here!"

Astronema sighed. "I'm always here, Karone. Always."

"Leave me alone," Karone spat, taking a few more steps away from her doppelganger. "I'm not you anymore."

The villainess snorted. "Keep telling yourself that. Maybe someday you'll even believe it." Astronema's sultry lips pulled into a cold smile. "But we both know the truth, don't we?"

Strutting in a seductive way that made Karone sick to her stomach, Astronema reached Zhane and ran a hand across his chest. "We know the truth, don't we, Ranger?" she asked him. Zhane offered no reply. His mouth hung slightly open. No doubt she had frozen him just as he'd finished that last sentence...

A shudder ran down Karone's spine while Astronema continued, her attention completely centered on the blond Ranger. "You said you don't love him, but it's actually the other way around, Karone," the vixen stated as she faced Karone, who was still feeling the deck spin under her feet as she stared at her reflection.

"Zhane doesn't love you. He doesn't even know you." Astronema thumped a hand on her chest. "He loves me. Me."

Karone blanched. The thought had occasionally come to her in the days just after her resurrection, but Zhane's assurances had dispelled her worries...

"He lied," Astronema giggled. "All this time, he's been waiting for a hint of the woman he loves. Do you remember what it felt like?" She swept her arms around. "The fire? The power? We had the universe at our fingertips."

"I don't want to hear this!" Karone cried, clamping her hands on her ears. "That part of my life is over!"

The more you distance yourself from who you were, who we were, the less worthy you are of his love.

Karone gaped as her hands fell to her sides. Astronema's voice in her mind... and Astronema had read her thoughts not once but twice...

"He doesn't want some whimpering goody-good who's afraid of her own shadow. He wants the she-devil you used to be. He wants you to be wild and reckless, just like him. He's full of passion, and he wants you to match that passion." Astronema snickered. "But you just don't have it in you, do you?"

"What are you?" Karone interrupted, her eyes narrowing. "You're not just a hallucination."

"I was wondering when we'd get to that." Astronema's tone was still thick with amusement. She folded her arms over her chest. "I'm your dark side, Karone," she announced. "Every cruel thought, every twisted craving you've ever had. That's me."

Karone shook her head wildly. "No... that can't be true..."

The Princess of Evil frowned slightly. "Can't it? Did you really think Dark Specter made me out of clay or something?" She took a step towards Karone. "Where did you think Astronema came from?"

Karone's mind was whirling. She had always believed that Dark Specter was fully responsible for the thing she had become... but to discover that Astronema was a true part of her, a part of her soul that had always existed... it was almost impossible to accept.

She was so confused... and only one question could rise to the forefront amidst the jumbled maelstrom of her thoughts.

"What do you want?"

Astronema's smug grin was suddenly replaced by stony neutrality. Terror suddenly gripped Karone. What if Astronema still wanted Zhane? Bad enough to... take control? The way she'd been tottering on the brink of insanity lately...

"Not my work," Astronema dismissed with a wave of her hand, again intruding on Karone's thoughts. "You've been suffering from schizophrenia. A side effect of Dark Specter's reprogramming. And don't worry, I'm enjoying my freedom far too much to want back in. What I really want..." Astronema stepped closer to her counterpart until they were face to face, "is to do you a favor."

"A... favor?" Karone squeaked. That was a possibility she hadn't considered.

Astronema nodded. "You liberated me from this dismal existence. So I owe you. Make a wish, and if I can grant it, I will."

Karone nearly staggered. A part of her own mind was offering her a wish? She tried to make sense of that, but her conscious mind was too busy contemplating her choices.

What could she wish for? That Andros and Ashley would get back together? That KO-35 would return to its former glory? That Dark Specter had never captured Zordon, or... Great Gods, had never existed? She could change the universe!

And yet... She was seeking other people's happiness. Andros' happiness, the Rangers' happiness, the universe's happiness. Why was she denying herself happiness?

Maybe because at some point, she had convinced herself that she didn't deserve to be happy. Not until she atoned for her crimes. In her eyes, her acts of repentance were duties to perform, nothing more. They brought no joy to her life.

Glancing at the Silver Ranger, still encased in the moment of time she had trapped him in, Karone heard his last words clearly. "I wish I'd never met you."

If she'd never met Zhane... could she have been different? Could she have been happy?

Why not find out?

Karone didn't know if the thought was hers or Astronema's, but at that point it didn't matter. Her mind was made up.

"I wish..." Karone's voice faltered as she realized the enormity of what she was doing. But she had no choice. Or maybe she had a choice, and was finally making the right one.

"I wish I never met Zhane." Karone said firmly.

First, the Princess of Evil simply stared at the girl, her sculpted eyebrow rising. But after a pause, Astronema laughed gleefully, a sinister sound indeed, and raised her arms over her head.

"Done!" she cackled.

And reality melted away.

* * *

"Well..." Astronema jumped off the crate and dusted herself off, "shall we?"

* * *

Cassie stepped into the darkened room, and immediately noticed the consistent beeps echoing in the barren chamber. The distinctive sound of a heart monitor.

"What is this place?" Carlos asked from behind her. "I didn't even know it existed."

The sole illumination in the room was coming from a brick of ice encased in glass. It lay on a platform with several devices attached to it. A wire ran from the glass to the wall, where a fogged screen was displaying something.

"Carlos..." Cassie whispered as she approached the ice, Carlos at her side.

The Black Ranger, eyes transfixed on the device, called out: "Guys! You'd better come check this out!"

Ashley Hammond and T.J. Johnson, the other two Space Rangers were there in a moment.

"Whoa!" the Yellow Ranger breathed as all four of them stood by the ice block, staring in amazement.

T.J. frowned. He didn't like mysteries, and a huge ice cube hidden in a secret chamber pretty much qualified.

"What is it?" he asked his friends.

Cassie stepped closer to the machine, face wrinkled in confusion and concentration. "It's... a cryogenic tube," she realized, recognizing the basic design. "There's someone frozen inside."

Carlos, meanwhile, had noticed the screen on the wall and wiped it clean, revealing an image of a human body, with various condition statistics listed beside it. He then turned to T.J. and the rest of the assembly. "Look, guys... I think he's alive."

As the four looked back to the ice, Cassie hesitantly reached out and wiped the frost from the glass covering, finding a helmet underneath. A Ranger helmet.

Cassie's eyebrows shot up in shock. Another Ranger?

Ashley swallowed nervously as she also realized just what the chamber's occupant was. "Who is he?" she asked no one in particular.

Nonetheless, someone answered.

"His name is Zhane."

Everyone turned to see Andros standing by the entrance. His expression was unreadable, his tone a strange mix of surprise and anticipation. As if what he was about to tell them, he'd never told a single soul in his entire life.

"He's the Silver Ranger."

While this "Zhane's" outfit pretty much made that obvious, it was quite another thing to actually hear Andros say it.

The Red Ranger slowly walked towards them, eyes focused on the cryotube. "He's my best friend." he added as the other Rangers parted to let Andros through.

"The door was open..." Cassie feebly tried to explain when Andros passed her, but he didn't seem to hear her.

Andros lay both hands on the glass. "We were a team..." he began. "Until the day Dark Specter attacked our home planet, KO-35..."

Each of the Rangers could see the great city under attack, explosions tearing apart buildings as an army of evil warriors rampaged through firelit streets, intent on flattening any resistance. And oh there was resistance... their minds' eye showed them the black-clad Karovan militia, fighting bravely to defend their world.

"They were everywhere. And they were relentless." Such bitterness in Andros' voice... It had been like that in the beginning too. But now his teammates understood the reason.

"Andros!" the Silver Ranger shouted as the monster raised its sword for a final strike.

"I was knocked down by one of Dark Specter's monsters..." Andros continued distantly, absorbed in his memories of the past.

"ZHANE!!!" Andros screamed.

"Zhane ran in, took the blow that was meant for me. He put his own life on the line... in order to save mine."

"NO!!!!" Andros howled as he clutched his helmet, falling to the ground in agony.

"He saved my life that day... so I brought him here." Andros finished, the never-forgotten pain flashing through his eyes.

T.J. approached Andros. "You froze him in this cryogenic tube... to save his life."

The Red Ranger nodded. "Over time, this instrument will heal him." Doubt was evident in his voice.

Carlos gripped Andros' shoulder. "Over how much time?"

Sighing, Andros looked away from his best friend. "He's been here over two years so far." His eyes shut. "He may never wake up. But for now, this machine keeps him alive."

Ashley had remained silent throughout Andros' tale, but now she voiced the question on everyone's mind.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

He turned to her, not knowing what to say. How could he explain? Why hadn't he told them? It doesn't concern you? What good would it have done? It's not important? What could Andros say that would make holding this back justified?

"Damage report complete," DECA intoned. "Shall I begin?"

Andros gazed at Ashley a moment longer, then headed for the door. "We're on our way up," he said, not looking back.

The four remaining Rangers followed Andros out, albeit not without a bit of hesitation.

* * *

"Look!" Astronema pointed, and Karone narrowed her eyes against the glare of the sun so she could clearly see what was happening.

* * *

"DECA, seal all doors!" Andros commanded as he saw some of the Kadixians slipping past the Rangers into the cargo bay. The AI obeyed, but too late. Several of the natives made it into the ship, while the others began pounding on the ship from outside. Electric shorts started spreading throughout the ship as the cloaked intruders both inside and outside the vessel continued wreaking damage.

"Malfunction in the healing chamber," the computer announced, probably wishing it could sound desperate.

* * *

Nothing to worry about, she told herself firmly. But she had an ominous feeling that something unexpected was about to happen.

* * *

Andros turned away from the fight as he felt a sudden wash of pain overcome him. But the pain wasn't his...

He stared at the ship, eyes widening at the sudden understanding. "There's something wrong with Zhane! I can sense it!" he cried. He could feel his friend's presence... something was happening to him, something bad.

The strength in his body evaporated, and the Spiral Saber fell from his numb hands as he dropped to his knees.

"NO!" he screamed. "He can't be!"

For a few seconds, there was only deep loss, only unfathomable pain. Andros breathed heavily, wishing he could just cease to exist... but the need for revenge overcame that. Picking up his sword, Andros rose to his feet, eyes glowing with anger.

"You're going to pay for this!" he vowed, rushing the Kadixians.

The other Rangers watched in amazement as Andros struck like a hurricane, slashing through a dozen attackers and sending them flying in every direction. The beetle monster hatched from Cassie's sample grabbed the berserk Ranger from behind, but even it couldn't contain the Karovan's wrath.

Carlos, Ashley, T.J. and Cassie regrouped, coming to their leader's aid as the battle raged on.

* * *

* * *

Another wave of terror hit Andros, and he lurched violently as he realized Zhane was fully awake and aware... and desperate.

"it's cold where am i it hurts my chest hurts somebody help me somebody andros let me out i can't breathe i can't breathe andros help me andros let me out let me OUT!!!"

"ZHAAAAANE!" the Red Ranger howled, dashing forward again. This time he didn't even stop to fight the monster, he just jumped over it, running into the ship.

"We need the Quantum Blaster!" Cassie shouted.

"Right!" the other three replied, calling on their combined weapon. Taking aim, they let loose with a sphere of energy which struck the beetle creature, causing it to violently explode.

As the Rangers looked back to the ship, they saw that the Kadixians were being thrown off the ship forcefully, soaring through the air and landing in unceremonious heaps in the sand.

"Let's go!" Ashley called as she gave chase after Andros. She vanished into the Megaship. Not even pausing to collect their thoughts, T.J., Cassie and Carlos immediately chased after her.

* * *

She turned back to the cryotube, and the sight presented to her was undeniable. Her eyes watered as she turned away, and with a sickening finality, she understood.

* * *

Demorphing as he ran, Andros burst into the room and skidded to a halt. The plexiglass covering the cryotube was cracked, and a hand was hanging out of it, completely limp.

The Red Ranger threw himself onto the cryotube, screaming a denial as he brought both fists down, shattering the glass. Reaching inside, Andros pulled the prone Silver Ranger out of the machine and lay him down on the ground, sinking to his knees beside his friend.

The Yellow, Black, Blue and Pink Rangers entered the room, but none of them dared to speak or move.

"Zhane?" Andros called softly, gently opening the helmet with trembling fingers. The Silver Ranger was young, not much older than Andros, with bright blond hair and fair skin. His eyes were closed, and fresh blood was running from his nose and a corner of his mouth.

Andros smoothed out his friend's face, wiping the blood away. "Zhane... Zhane, wake up..." He shook the motionless Karovan pleadingly. "Come on, Zhane... Open your eyes."

As the other Rangers watched in disbelief and sorrow, Andros grabbed Zhane and pulled him up, cradling his friend in his arms. "Zhane? Zhane... come on, snap out of it!"

"Andros... it's over." Carlos murmured sympathetically, breaking the silence on his teammates' part.

Andros looked back at them, and for a moment none of the Rangers could recognize him. His eyes were wide, panicked and tear-filled, and his face was twisted in a look of sheer horror.

"No," he snarled vehemently. "He's not dead. He's not dead, I won't let him!" Looking back to the Silver Ranger, Andros mumbled: "Maybe he just needs air..."

Laying the blond back on the floor, Andros bent over him and began breathing long and hard into Zhane's mouth. The other four Rangers were silent as Andros inhaled deeply and forced oxygen into the Silver Ranger's lungs.

After several minutes, Andros straightened up in mid-breath, clearly realizing this was getting him nowhere. "BREATHE ALREADY!" he howled, his voice wavering as he pounded on Zhane's chest.

"Andros! Enough!" T.J. yelled, moving forward and grabbing Andros' shoulder. The Karovan's response was immediate and violent.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!" he screamed, lashing out with his telekinesis. The four Rangers were thrown several feet back, and they were sent crashing to the floor outside the room.

Andros turned his full attention to the Silver Ranger. "Get up, Zhane. Show them they're wrong... Come on..." Andros sounded like he was on the brink of insanity. "You never run from anything. You can't run now! I need you! Do you hear me? I need you! You have to stay alive!"

Falling into a sudden fit of hysterics, the Karovan shouted: "Damn it, Zhane! Breathe!" Andros raised a fist and slammed it against Zhane's chest, trying to pound life back into him. Zhane jolted from the blow, but nothing happened.

"Wake up! Gods damn you, don't leave me here!" Another sharp blow to the chest. "I won't let you go! I WON'T LET YOU!" Andros raised his fist again, but slowly lowered it back down. With an oddly disconcerting quiet, he pulled the body into a weak embrace.

"I hate you, you bastard," he sobbed quietly, "I hate you."

By now, the other Rangers, shaken by Andros' lashing out at them, were on their feet. Ashley took a half-step forward, arms parted as if to embrace him, but she froze in place, turned and walked away. After exchanging a glance, her three Earthling teammates left as well, leaving the grieving Andros alone with his lifeless best friend.

* * *

Alpha gave the mechanical equivalent of a gulp and stepped into the healing chamber. Hours had passed, but nothing had changed. Andros was sitting in the middle of the room, holding Zhane's body and slowly rocking back and forth. His face was numb and expressionless, but his deep loss was almost palpable in the air. He stared forward unseeingly, face was moist with tears.

"Andros?" the diminutive robot squeaked.

"Go away," Andros croaked, his voice a weakened parody of what it had once been.

"Um... we're heading to KO-35. It might be best if Zhane was... buried there."

Andros didn't seem to hear Alpha. "Go away," he hissed with more force, pulling Zhane closer.

Alpha left.

* * *

The sun was barely starting to set on KO-35, but for the Power Rangers, night had already fallen.

The Red Ranger, sans helmet, stood silently on his Galaxy Glider, hovering over the center of a deep lake. In his arms he carried the body of Zhane of KO-35, the heroic Silver Ranger. Andros' loose hair whipped wildly in the wind, but he stared dead ahead at the sun, unblinking.

The Galaxy Glider descended until it was just touching the water, and Andros knelt, lowering his best friend down.

"I didn't mean what I said before," Andros murmured quietly. "I want you to know that. I could never hate you. You're my best friend... always."

Bending down, Andros kissed Zhane on the forehead. "I love you, Zhane." Swallowing, he held his fallen friend over the still waters and let him go.

The body slid into the lake's dark depths without a sound, without a splash, and Andros watched grimly as it plummeted to the bottom of the watery grave. Yes, Zhane would be at peace here, on his homeworld.

Reaching into his belt, Andros removed a cellphone-shaped device and placed it on a large rock near Zhane's resting place.

His best friend's burial complete, Andros piloted the Galaxy Glider towards the edge of the lake, where the Megaship rested. As he drew closer to the ship which had been his home, Zhane's home, he found the tears coming again with astounding swiftness.

He let them. Nothing mattered anymore.

* * *

She stood and approached her double. "In other words, there's a brave new world out there, and you're not going anywhere until you see it through."