Behind the Mask: Chapter 17 - A Phantom Appearance
I started this chapter as soon as I finished the last one, got three pages into it before I decided I didn't like it and stopped. I planned (and tried) to do a rewrite, but it never got any further than the first few paragraphs--which I did like better than what I had for the original beginning and tacked on to the front of this. Needless to say, it didn't go any further cause I wasn't in the mood for a rewrite, yet didn't want to continue the long version of what I had either. So it's been sitting on my laptop for about four months or so.
I was rereading some of my old favorites the other day and sparked some inspiration for this. So, I solved my problem! I decided to just end it where I left off (it is a good breaking point), and start a new chapter from a new angle, so I can get this moving again. Possibly and probably the shortest chapter for this story, but hopefully this'll get me unstuck and into more of the fun stuff. (Cause there's lots of fun stuff coming! :D)
Behind the Mask
by Starlit Purple
Chapter 17: A Phantom Appearance
“Ay-yi-yi! Rangers!” Alpha cried from a console lining one of the walls of the bridge.
“What is it Alpha?” Cassie asked as she and Ashley rushed to their stations. They were the only ones on the bridge at the moment, having run Andros off to go get some sleep when they arrived nearly an hour ago.
Deca's voice answered in reply. “I am detecting a ship approaching rapidly off the port bow.”
The pink and yellow rangers shared a look before rushing to their stations. Cassie frowned as her fingers danced across her console. “That's too small to be the Shadow Dweller.”
Ashley nodded, not looking up from her own console. “It looks like it's a fighter.”
Cassie threw a glance at her friend. “You don't think it's a scout ship, do you?”
A high-pitched beep sounded across the bridge and Deca's voice immediately followed. “Incoming transmission.”
“Put it through, Deca,” Zhane called as he, TJ, and Carlos poured onto the bridge. Astra, following more slowly, stayed quietly at the back.
“Power Rangers,” a soft, familiar voice emanated from the ship's speakers as it's owner appeared on the screen in front of them.
“Phantom!” Cassie cried, staring wide-eyed at the screen.
The morphed ranger nodded in acknowledgment and continued. “I have news about Zordon that is of the utmost importance. I need to speak with you immediately.”
Zhane nodded quickly, punching at something on the console in front of him. “Of course, we'll meet you in the cargo bay, Phantom.”
He nodded again and reached forward. Seconds later the screen flicked out, switching to a realtime view of the small fighter approaching the Megaship, preparing to dock.
Zhane gathered them all up at a glance the same way Andros usually did and they all piled into the Megalift at the back of the bridge. Astra hesitated only a moment, before catching Zhane's eye and stepping in with them.
“Wait,” TJ said as the doors slid closed. “What about Andros?”
Carlos frowned and looked around as if he expected their red teammate to coalesce beside him out of thin air. “Yeah, where is he anyway?”
“He's supposed to be sleeping,” Ashley put in, sighing. “Cassie and I ran him off the bridge a little while ago.” She paused as the lift slowed to a stop and opened again. “I'll go get him,” she told the others as they filed out.
TJ turned as he stepped off the lift and nodded at her. “Don't worry, we won't start without you,” he told her.
Carlos turned and smirked at her as the doors started to close again. “Just don't take too long,” he mock-warned, winking at her.
She rolled her eyes, smiling to herself as the lift hummed to life once more. The ride wasn't quite long enough and she still had a grin on her face as she stepped out onto deck five. As she strode up to the red ranger's room, it occurred to her to wonder if he had actually listened when she and Cassie had told him to get some sleep. “Deca, is Andros in his room?” she asked the nearest camera.
“He is, Ashley,” the AI replied, flashing her red light at her in acknowledgment.
She smiled, moving forward and rapping lightly on the bulkhead. Receiving no answer, she tried again, knocking harder this time. The door still remained closed. Frowning, she reached over and tapped the keypad beside the door. If Andros had it locked, then it wouldn't do any good and she'd have to ask Deca for help. But the door slid open at her command, light spilling across the darkened room.
Ashley sighed, smiling at the curled up lump lying on the bunk, seemingly unbothered by her sudden presence. “Crashes as hard as he plays,” she said softly to herself, amused. “Andros?” She called out, raising her voice.
The lump moved and from where she stood just inside the room, she could see him raising his arms above him in a stretch, before sitting up lazily. “Only when someone f-forces me to,” he mumbled, his words slightly stifled by a yawn.
For a moment, she didn't know what he was talking about, but the smirk he was giving her made her remember her words and she was suddenly glad that the light was behind her. “You were awake!” she admonished lightly.
He shrugged and chuckled softly as he reached for something on his bedside table. “Your knocking woke me up. Deca, lights?” He directed the last at the tiny camera as an afterthought.
“Then why didn't you answer?” Ashley asked as the room became fully illuminated. She spotted his jacket lying in a heap in a chair, where it had been haphazardly tossed and grabbed it up as she made her way to his bed.
Andros took it when she offered it to him and slid it on before answering. “Because I knew that if it was that important, you wouldn't have knocked-plus Deca would have alerted me by now.”
Ashley cast an almost guilty glance up at the camera in the red ranger's room. “Actually, we asked her not to disturb you unless we were being attacked. But it is kind of an emergency,” she continued without pause. “The Phantom Ranger is here with a message about Zordon.”
Andros stood abruptly, frowning. “He's here? What about Zordon?”
Ashley shook her head. “Don't know. He's docking now. Zhane and the others are waiting for him in the cargo bay.”
Andros nodded. “Alright, let's go,” he said, and the two jogged out of the room.
* * *
Cassie was vaguely aware of the others behind her, as well as TJ's comforting hand on her shoulder, as the little flyer carefully eased it's way into the cargo bay.
She could hear Astra whispering something to their silver teammate from the doorway, but paid no attention until she joined them, standing just behind Zhane almost shyly. She had practically only spoken to Zhane since TJ and Carlos had run into her earlier, but she had joined them at supper, and that was a step up.
Her eyes were drawn to the bulky sweatshirt she was now wearing-which had Astronema's diamond emblem emblazoned prominently on the front-and it occurred to her that they hadn't given her anything to wear since she'd come to stay with them. They'd have to change that later...
Her thoughts pulled away from Astra as the flyer sat down, it's engines dimming to a mere hum as the ship went through it's landing procedures and powered itself down. There was a quiet hiss as the locks were released and the windowed compartment slid away, and moments later, the Phantom Ranger was climbing out and crossing the floor to join them.
His helmet turned toward her briefly, and she smiled welcomingly, lifting a hand in silent wave. He nodded to her and then looked away, doing a quick survey of them all. He paused for a moment on Astra, but said nothing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Astra shift a little, but she held his gaze firmly.
“Phantom, it's good to see you,” Andros's voice from behind them made her turn. He stepped past her to the front of the group. Ashley, just behind him, stopped at Cassie's side. As Cassie watched, Andros laid his right fist across his chest, resting it over his heart and bowed his head in what looked to be a greeting.
She was only mildly surprised to see Phantom return the gesture before speaking again. “And you, Andros. I only wish it were under better circumstances. Is there a more convenient place to talk?”
Andros nodded and turned. “Let's go to the work bay.”