"The fighters are aboard," KERI informed them.

"We're clear," Kris told the comm.

"Head back to base," Matt answered tersely. While Kris brought them about there was a brief pause, and then, "Delta Sun, can you raise anyone in the Power Chamber?"

Kris glanced over at Jenna. There was a pause, and then the other girl frowned, shaking her head. "The signal's going through, at least on the Aquitian frequency, but no one's responding."

"Negative," Kris relayed. "There's no response."

In the background, Cassie heard one of Matt's teammates add, "I can't reach the Aquitian Megazord, either."

"We left all of the Aquitian Rangers in your command center," Kris interrupted. "There may not be anyone on the megazord to answer the signal."

"We heard," Matt replied, his voice neutral.

"Then it's time to find out why," a familiar voice said from behind her, and Cassie whirled. Saryn smiled at her expression before his gaze flickered toward Kris, and he said automatically, "Status."

Ignoring his half-hearted attempt at formality, she leapt forward and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back, and she felt him chuckle soundlessly. His awareness ventured a little closer, touching her thoughts carefully and making her feel warm inside.

"The Earth Rangers' command center isn't responding," Kris's voice said, from somewhere... outside. "KERI told you?"

Saryn let her go reluctantly, giving Kris a nod. "On our way to the Bridge. I understood that the battle there was over."

"It was," Timmin put in. "At least, we thought it was. We never would have left if we'd picked up any kind of negative energy out there."

"Maybe it came in afterward?" Lyris offered, stepping around the second row of consoles. "Is it possible they didn't have time to yell for help?"

"Oh," Jenna breathed. The simple sound was enough to draw everyone's attention to the main screen, where the Earth Rangers' command center was fast approaching.

What was left of it, anyway. The Yellow and Green Turbo zords were settled in the sand outside the scorched structure, apparently at a loss for what to do. The damaged holding bay must not have admitted them when the megazord broke apart, Cassie thought distantly, shocked by the sight before her.

"Justin, Laura," Matt said, not bothering to mute the audio. "Let's get down there. Delta Sun, maintain position until you hear from us."

"Acknowledged," Saryn said, though the set of Kris' shoulders was exasperated. Hovering, especially in the battleship, was not her favorite activity.

It was minutes before any kind of contact resumed. Cassie was wondering if Kris had offended the Red Earth Ranger that much when the comm crackled to life again.

"Everyone's accounted for," Matt reported at last. "But TJ's the only one who's conscious. He says he and one of the Aquitian Rangers were on their way to Medical when she collapsed. Apparently he got a little... turned around after that."

"She collapsed?" Saryn repeated, frowning.

A voice said something, on the edge of the comm's pickup range, and followed with a barely distinguishable, "Is that important?"

"TJ says she demorphed first." Matt was silent for a moment, and Cassie wished she could somehow see what he was seeing. "Three of them are here, plus Carlos, and they're all stable. That's all we know right now. I'm sending Laura and Justin after the others."

"Do you wish us to go after the Astro Megaship?" Saryn asked, already a step ahead. "We ought to be able to track the Kerovan team's Power signatures. Or your own, should that fail."

There was another brief hesitation, and then a sigh. "If you wouldn't mind. I don't dare leave them here alone like this. Besides..." Matt's voice had a hint of humor in it this time. "The Delta Sun may be the only flightworthy vehicle around right now."

***

The sky had started to lighten, enough to dampen the starlight but not quite enough to cast shadows on the harsh desert ground. He gazed off toward the horizon, the Megaship at his back. He knew that rescue, if it came, would most likely come from the opposite direction. But that hadn't quelled the urge to inspect his ship from the outside, to try and assess damage before the others woke, and his mood had turned strangely reflective in the predawn light.

Zhane was hurt. No matter his brave façade, he wasn't going to make it much longer without help that the Megaship wasn't currently capable of providing. The others were in better shape, and could hold out at least as long as the emergency rations lasted. But unless the remaining generator power on the Megaship was enough to get DECA operational again, they wouldn't be going anywhere. It would only be a matter of time before the velocifighters tracked them down.

Unless the others had won. If the Earth Rangers had beaten back the siege, then they would waste no time in coming after their own. But how much faith could he put in that possibility?

And yet... how much choice did he have?

"Are you always up before the sun?" The voice at his side was as quiet as it was unexpected, and he tried not to start.

Glancing over his shoulder, he felt his heart skip despite the clamp he had put on his emotions. Ashley stood there, her Ranger jacket clutched loosely around her shoulders as she cocked her head at him. Her hair was tousled with sleep, but her eyes were clear and her expression was heartbreakingly sincere. He couldn't shake the feeling that he *knew* that look, that it was embedded somewhere deep inside his heart...

He was staring, and she didn't seem at all surprised. He did his best not to blush as he wrenched his gaze away. "No," he muttered. "Not usually."

"Time zones, huh?" she asked, shifting a little to look out at the horizon with him. Her tone was wryly sympathetic, and again, the feeling that it was undeniably familiar took hold of him without warning.

"A little," he managed, torn between the desire to hear her speak again and the wish for her to be quiet so he could get a better grip on his feelings. "It's several hours later in Keyota."

"Your hometown?" she asked. Her voice was mildly curious this time, and he had to fight the urge to glance over at her. He knew beyond a doubt what he would see if he did, and though he *wanted* to see her look at him with any kind of interest, he knew too that he might not be able to look away this time.

"Yeah," he agreed quietly, his gaze fixed firmly on the horizon. "Mine and Kerone's and Zhane's."

"The others don't live there?" She sounded surprised to hear that.

He shook his head. "Leigh's from Cayeron. Rill and Kaeth live on RS-42."

"Oh." She didn't seem to have any other answer for that, and he looked over at her involuntarily.

He regretted it the moment he did it. A slight frown marred her faraway expression, but she looked more peaceful than he had yet seen her. She didn't seem uncomfortable to be around him at all, which he found odd after everything she must have heard about both him and the vision.

"I heard you, last night," he said, watching for her reaction. He wasn't sure what made him say it, but since he couldn't look away from her he thought he might as well take control of the conversation.

Her gaze slid toward him, a little startled and more than a little amused. "Talking to Zhane, you mean?"

Her equanimity surprised him, and he wished she hadn't turned to look at him. It had been easier to talk to her when her eyes were elsewhere. "Yeah. I... didn't mean to eavesdrop; I just... I felt it when he woke up."

She seemed to consider that, still gazing calmly at him. "That's a funny thing you can do. Do you always know what he's feeling?"

"Not what he's feeling," he said uncomfortably. "Just--sometimes--what he's thinking. And it's not funny. It's just the way we are."

Unaccountably, she blushed. "I'm sorry," she murmured, looking down at last. "I didn't mean it to sound that way."

He watched her, trying not to smile at her apology. "You're--" He closed his mouth quickly, catching himself just before he told her how pretty she was. "It's all right."

She looked up, staring intently at him, almost as though she knew what he had been about to say. "You confuse me," she admitted suddenly. "I wish--I wish I knew you better."

He blinked, startled. "What?"

"I wish I knew you better," she repeated, pink creeping into her cheeks again. "I wish... I understood you."

He felt his lips quirk even before he answered. "The feeling's mutual." He didn't know what made him tell her that, but it was certainly nothing less than honest.

She laughed a little, and the sound rang in his memory. "Maybe we should do something about it, then." Her tone was only half-serious, and he knew she had suggested it that way on purpose. She was giving him a chance to ignore the remark, if he wanted to.

"You don't know him," Zhane had said the night before. "Andros doesn't do things halfway."

*And you would know,* he told the memory silently. "Yeah," he said aloud. "Maybe we should."

"You go first, then," she said, smile still lingering on her face. "What do you want to know?"

He hesitated, surprised by the straightforwardness of the question. *What do I want to know?* he mused. *I want to know why I'm in love with you when I've only just met you, that's what I want to know.* He stared at her, hoping his thoughts didn't show on his face. *I want to know why your spirit shines out through your eyes so that I'd recognize you anywhere, no matter who either of us was. I want to know how something like this can happen, just like that. And... I want to know why you can't seem to feel it, when it's the only thing I can think of every time I look at you.*

"I don't think I can answer that one," she said at last, and his eyes widened.

It took him a moment to realize that he couldn't possibly have spoken aloud, and that she was only reacting to his silence. He tried to calm the rush of adrenaline that had invaded with her words, and he took a deep breath. "I, uh... I can't think of the right words," he offered at last, trying to sound apologetic.

She smiled a little. "Does that mean that I get to ask something, then?"

He almost chuckled. "I know what you want to know," he said before he could think, and some of his amusement must have come through in his tone.

She looked chagrinned. "Do you," she said, the words almost a challenge. "Does that mean you're going to tell me?"

He studied her, then shook his head slowly. "No," he said at last. "Because I was supposed to go first." Seeing the look on her face, he added quickly, "If you answer my question, I'll answer yours. Honest."

"Okay," she conceded, a pout warring with resignation on her face. "Fair enough."

He sighed, realizing that he had just committed to asking a question she wasn't going to like. It wasn't even a fair question. But it was the only one that he *had* to have an answer to, and this might be his only chance. "Ashley," he said slowly, wondering if there was any way to phrase it without sounding offensive. "Am I..."

He trailed off, irritated with both himself and the vision that had put this idea into his head. If he had never known she existed, he could have been perfectly happy. He could have gone through his life never knowing what he was missing, never knowing that he was incomplete, content never to know the longing that now threatened to overwhelm him.

"I like you," he said at last, knowing there was nothing else for it but to tell her the truth. "I don't know exactly what I saw in this vision, but I know what I see whenever I look in your eyes, and it's something that makes me feel whole. I'm not--I'm not *asking* anything of you, but I wonder... am I wasting my time?"

She stared at him, surprise and uncertainty showing through in her eyes. What could she say to that, really? He felt badly for asking, but he couldn't take it back. He had to know.

"I--don't know," she said softly, looking down at the ground. "That's a hard one, Andros."

"I know," he admitted, frustrated. "But... if the answer to that one is 'yes', then the easy ones don't mean anything."

"No," she agreed, a small smile gracing her features. "I guess not. I just--I don't want to tell you there's a chance only to find out later that there isn't."

"I'm not asking about later," he told her. "I'm asking about right now. I'm asking if there's any reason for me to be here today."

She glanced up, catching his eye. He almost held his breath, waiting on her answer. "Yes," she said at last, very quietly. "I'm glad you're here today."

He should let it go at that. He should be happy with that admission, and not push for more. But his heart, as usual, refused to listen to his brain. "Am I wasting my time, Ashley?"

She shook her head, very slowly. "No," she whispered, still staring at him. "No, I don't think you're wasting your time."

He swallowed hard, unable to believe his own audacity. His heart was pounding in his ears as he asked, "May I kiss you?"

She just looked at him, eyes wide, and he couldn't resist. He leaned a little closer, touching her lips gently and feeling his heart melt when her eyes fluttered closed. He kissed her again, just as softly, letting his mouth linger against hers as long as he dared.

He drew back at last, and her brown eyes were a little too bright as they gazed back at him. "I think you used up more than your share of questions," she informed him unsteadily.

"Sorry," he murmured, watching her carefully. "Your turn."

She swallowed. "I thought you knew what I was going to ask."

He tried to force his mind away from the kiss and back to the conversation. "You, uh... you want to know about me and Zhane."

She nodded.

"We're not like Leigh and Rill," he said. That was what she had been trying to ask Zhane the night before. He didn't know if Zhane hadn't realized that, or if his friend had been playing dumb for the entertainment value. He gazed at her now, half watching for her reaction and half just wanting to stare. "They're exclusive. There's no room for anyone else in their relationship; you can see it whenever they're together."

"And... you and Zhane are different," she said, still looking uncertain.

"Yeah." Before he could offer anything else, though, Zhane's distinctive thought pattern interrupted. He glanced up automatically, as though he could see what the other was seeing. "The Delta Sun!"

Ashley frowned at him but he ignored it, grabbing her hand and urging her to run. They weren't going to be on their own after all.

***

He turned at the sound of Cassie's voice, attuned to her as to no one else. She knelt by one of the Kerovan Rangers--no, Saryn realized, coming to her side. Not a Ranger, but clearly a victim of the battle nonetheless. Zhane seemed to be badly hurt, moreso than any of the others gathered around their makeshift fire.

Jenna and Kris were helping two of the girls up, checking them over to make sure they were mobile. Timmin was questioning one of the others over the whereabouts of their leader and the missing Earth Ranger, and Lyris had already disappeared inside the Megaship. He was the only one who could help, and Cassie knew it.

He hunkered down on the ground beside Zhane, placing one hand on the other's chest. "Will you trust me?" he asked quietly.

Zhane made a motion that could have been a nod, and Saryn closed his eyes. The Power flowed into him as he morphed, filling his world with a red glow that didn't fade as he channeled the energy into the injured boy in front of him. There was only so much he could do, but he felt Zhane's life force strengthening as he concentrated. He was going to make it.

As he let go, he felt his morph fade as well and he didn't fight it. It was easier to use the Power when he was morphed, but outside of battle he wasn't fond of the condition. It was too isolating, too distancing from the people around him.

"Andros!"

He looked up when one of the girls shouted from the ramp, and he saw Andros and Ashley emerging from the Megaship's shadow. He lifted one hand in acknowledgement of the other team's leader, and Andros waved back. In seconds the other boy was beside him, kneeling with them next to Zhane and studying his friend anxiously. Zhane was only just awake, but Andros must have been able to see something in his friend's face, for he lifted his gaze and said simply, "Thank you."

Saryn nodded once, getting to his feet. "I could do nothing less. Does the Megaship have a functional EM cloak, if we were to leave it here temporarily?"

Andros shook his head, but Ashley spoke before he could. "We can contact NASADA from the Power Chamber," she offered. "They can put it under guard for us until we have time to start repair work."

"Good." He caught Cassie's hand as she scrambled up, taking stock of the situation. Kris and Jenna appeared on the ramp of the Delta Sun at that moment, and he glanced around for the others. The rest of the Kerovan team had been hustled aboard the Elisian battleship, and he assumed Timmin was still with them. Lyris stepped off the Megaship just as Saryn wondered about him, and he gestured for the Blue Ranger to join them. "It's time for us to go."