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"We are not in Kansas anymore Toto Pt. 2" is the next chapter in the life of Andros, Zane, and Carlos. Same characters, just expands on the relationship between Carlos, Zane and Andros. Power Rangers, Power Rangers in Space, Power Rangers Turbo, AlienRangers, and all characters from the series are trademarks of and copyright by Saban Entertainment.
Look for another set of adventures for Zane, Andros and Carlos.....
I welcome comments and suggestions. Send to marik_jol@hotmail.com or marik_jol@yahoo.com.
Thanks, Jolan Tru ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kansas Chapter 2
My past, present and future all collided in a colorful pinwheel. I felt as if I was pulled like taffy. Then as soon as it started it ended. I just lay where I landed. I opened my eyes and found everything dark. I rubbed them and tried to focus. I sat up quickly bashing my head into the bunk above mine. "Damn it." I yelled out. "Zane. Andros. Billy." No answer.
Where was I? I thought. I remember being in Billy's lab with the others then something happened and wound up here. No it couldn't have happened. He was working on moving between dimensions. Did it work? I could not be in another dimension. Everything looks the same. It smells the same. Nah, I must be dreaming. Must have had a rough night. But it was so real. I started to get dressed. Figured I would meet up with them on the ship.
I stepped to the mirror and fixed my hair and noticed that there was one thing wrong. Why was I in these quarters? These aren't my quarters. For the past year I have been sharing one with Zane and Andros. This is getting weird I thought to myself. I got my clothes on and decided to go see what was up. Everything looked alright. As I pushed through the ship everything seemed okay. Just I can't explain why I seemed to have been in Billy's lab. As I entered the bridge I punched up a few scans of the surrounding area. Everything checked out fine or seemed to. I heard someone approach.
"Hey Carlos. What ya up to?"
It was Cassie, her normally jubilant self. "Oh not much just feel a little strange that's all."
"Your not getting sick are you." She said sounding worried. "TJ would never forgive us for keeping you out so late last night."
"That must explain it." I reasoned. "Hey wait a minute why would TJ need to forgive."
"You were supposed to be out of town." She said.
"Out of town?" I queried.
"Oh don't be silly." She said turning to leave.
This was getting too much. What does TJ have to do with anything? I took a second to concentrate and try to contact the guys telepathically. I found Andros but something was different. He did not respond back like he normally did. I sat down and tried to contact Zane.
"Zane!!!!" I exclaimed. My breathing became ragged and torn. I was bracing myself. Zane he wasn't there. No essence no nothing.
I ran like there was no tomorrow. I was trying to get to the quarters Zane, Andros and I shared. The last time I lost contact with Zane, it was when Zane was kidnapped by Nikkolo. The sudden loss of the link put me into a mild coma. But it seems the link was never there but I know it was. Something is definitely up. If Nikkolo's is at it again. He will really regret showing his face again. I will not lose them again. I stepped into the lift.
"Level 3." I said to the artificial intelligence. The lift began to move.
"DECA where is Andros?" I asked.
"He is on level 3 section 5a." She answered.
"Hmm. His quarters." I said.
"Yes."
"DECA, where is Zane?" I asked.
"There is no one on board by that name." It responded.
I got out on our floor. I turned right and made a mad run. All the while trying to get Andros' attention mentally. But he was not answering. I could see Andros' quarters coming around. I stopped in front of the door. It did not open. It was locked. Andros never locked his door. I looked at the keypad and punched in the keycode. The door slid open and I heard some muffled voices. I walked in.
"Andros, Zane." I called out.
"Lights."
And as the lights came on I was graced with a sight that was out of my worst fears. Andros was there on his bed completely naked humping Ashley. They both had now turned to look at me with a look of shock and embarassment. What in hell was going on? I know there is something wrong.
"How could you!!!!!!!!!!?" I screeched at him.
Tears were running down my face. "I thought you loved me and Zane."
"Zane ... Loved You? What are you talking about? You were supposed to be out of town." Andros said covering himself up. Ashley was doing the same.
"So that's it. How did you do it? Keeping it out of our t'hy'la bond. All this time you were boinking her." I said seething. "Wait till we're gone. Ash how could you?"
"Do what? T'hy'la, how did you know about that? And first of all how did you get in. I locked the door." He asked.
"This is how I know of t'hy'la: you gave me the keycode" I said grabbing the cuff on my ear.
Andros finally noticed it. He turned his head to Ash and looked at the cuff on hers. I finally noticed it. Oh did I feel the fool. There was a lead weight in my stomach. I hurt. I couldn't believe he could do this to me. I turned around and faced the door. How could I have been so stupid? I bolted out the door. I ran down the corner and turned. I could hear foot steps behind me. I was nearing Zane's quarters. All I wanted was to have somebody hold me. I was near breaking down. I barrelled inside.
As I entered I told the computer, "DECA do not tell anybody where I am. Understood?
"Yes."
"Lights." I said and the lights came on.
To my utter shock the room was barren. It looked as if no one has lived here in years. Dust everywhere. Where was Zane? He can't be gone too. I fell to the floor. I pounded the floor in frustration. I hopped up and ran to my quarters. As I got to my quarters, I could hear voices on the other side of the door. I hoped it was Zane. I enter and notice there is clothes all over the place. I reached down and picked up a shirt. It wasn't my shirt and I looked further. And they were not my clothes.
I called out. "Zane!!" As I ran to the bathroom where the voices were coming from.
I threw the door open and there stood the last person I ever would have expected. Dark eyes looked my way. A huge smile developed on the innocent face. A pair of long dark arms enveloped me. They were surprisingly strong.
"Carlos your back." TJ said.
I broke the embrace and stepped back. He was totally naked. I could not fathom how he got here.
"Why are you here? And why are you naked?" I asked turning around.
"Tsk, tsk." TJ said running his hand around my waist and down my hip to where it cupped my balls.
I jumped back quickly. "What in the hell are you doing?"
"Don't take that tone with me." He said. "What's up with you? You act as if you have never seen me nude before. And you and I know better." He said with an evil grin.
I shook my head to clear it. "Where is Zane?"
"Zane?" He asked his face twisted in misery.
"Yes, Zane. I need to find him. I found Andros in bed with Ashley. And I can not feel Zane anymore in my mind. I was in Billy's lab." I explained.
At TJ's blank look I continued to explain. "The first blue ranger. And Andros and Zane were there as well as Tommy and Jason. We were watching an experiment and then...That's it! I was transported to an alternate dimension." I said with hope.
"Carlos you know he died in the final battle against Astronema."
It couldn't be. He did not die. "Zane!!!! Dead!!!" I screamed as everything went blank. The last thing I heard was TJ screaming for help.
===
I awoke in a room similar to the one in Nikkolo's fortress. I could see Zane huddled against the wall. I was calling for him and he would not move. I ran to him and knealt beside him. I laid my hands on him. He was so cold. I felt for a pulse and ther was none and I listened for him to breathe and he didn't. He was dead. It could not be. I collapsed to the floor and gathered him in my arms and rocked him back and forth. I cried and cried and rocked and rocked. I finally had too much. I threw my head back and screamed.
I sat up screaming. "Zane!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I was panting and heaving. I felt a pair of hands on me gently pushing me back down on the bed. I finally opened my eyes and turned to see Cassie looking over me. I finally noticed they were not the only ones in the room. I scanned the room. Ash and Andros were to one side and TJ was to the other wringing his hands in worry. When I realized where I was I closed my eyes and tried to get my breathing in order.
"What happened?" I asked.
"You collapsed and TJ called for help. You had us worried. Your body began to shut down." She said. "Alpha was able to stabilize you."
"Why did I collapse?" I was still a bit disoriented.
"That's what we hoped you could answer." Andros said. "All Alpha could find was that you had went into extreme shock."
TJ moved closer and grabbed my hand. "Yes what's wrong? You had me real worried."
"I remember walking in on Andros and Ash." I said giving them a level look. "Then I went to Zane's quarters to look for him."
When I said that they looked at each other and all got a sad expression. "What?"
"Then you really don't remember. Do you?" TJ said.
"No, I don't. Things are so strange since I woke up." I said exasperated.
"Zane died when the Winger was destroyed." TJ explained.
"No! I just talked to him yesterday." I said arguing. "He can't be dead."
"Trust me he is. I would never joke about this." Andros said as a stray tear fell from his eyes.
I hung my head down. I was totally confused now. "I have lost my mind."
"No we will figure it out." Cassie said.
"Let's begin with you telling us what you know." Ashley suggested.
I took a deep breathe. "I guess it wouldn't hurt. It seems our differences in what we know stem around Zane and myself. About a year and a half ago, Zane, Andros and I began an intimate realtionship. Eventually we got married." I paused letting them see my ear.
"Yep that is a KO-35 wedding cuff." Andros acknowledged.
"Well we ran into a shifty character named Nikkolo. Zane was kidnapped and Andros and I rescued him. Then came the psycho rangers we eventually defeated them. And let's see. Oh the final battle just a few months ago, took its toll on us. We were separated and I was worried that I would never see Zane and Andros ever again. We were finally reunited but minus Zane. He was ok as far as I knew. Andros and I would have known if something happened to him." I said pointing to my temple. They looked confused all except Ash and Andros.
"Let me explain. When we first got together, we bonded. Mentally and physically. We could talk telepathically and we knew where the other is at all times. Even now I still feel you here Andros. Zane well he isn't there." I said reaching over and stroking Andros' cheek. He jerked back as if shocked.
"He's right. I am bonded with him somehow. But I have only bonded with Ash here. And she and I are the only ones that knew about it. I can feel him faintly. Not as strong as Ash here." Andros explained staring me straight in the eye.
"Continue." Cassie said.
"Well eventually Zane met up with us." I said remembering our make up. "Well lets say we were back together again. Andros got a wild hair up his ass to confront Astronema by himself. Well he succeeded and in the end got his sister back." Andros ears perked up.
"My sister?" Andros queried.
"Yes. " I answered simply. "Well we all returned to earth and lived happily. Then we decided to go for a picnic and we meet up with Tommy and Jason. They invite us back to Billy's lab. Where he is working on a transdimensional warping. And here I am. Can you tell me what has happened that I am wrong on or missing? Andros even though the bond I had with you is weak. You know I am telling the truth"
They all stood quietly and looked at TJ. He walked up to my bed and grabbed my hand. I was shocked by that but did not withdraw it. He just looked at me. With what looked like love in his eyes.
"Well everything jives till you get to the Battle of Earth. Zane died in the Mega Winger. And the fact that the three of you are not together nor have ever been." He said not looking at me.
"Then why were you ... Oh my" I said raising my hand to my mouth in shock. I placed a hand on one side of TJ face. I turned it to me. "You and I are together aren't we?"
===
"Carlos.!!!!" Zane and Andros yelled in unison as Carlos blinked out of sight.
"What happened?" Tommy asked.
"I think it worked too good." Billy said. "It seems that Carlos may have been bounced to another dimension."
"We have to get him back." Andros said frantically.
Zane came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his shoulders. "Shhh. Andros we will, we will."
Jason just stood there in shock. Billy worked over his equipment and couldn't find what the problem was. He got his sensors out and started looking the machine over in the microscopic level. It found nothing. Billy turned around to face Andros and Zane. As he did the sensor started screaming. Billy gave it a strange look and smacked with his hand and turned back to the equipment. The sensor calmed down. He then turned around to the guys and squealed like nothing else.
"Hmm, wonder what is up?" He said as he ran the scanner over Tommy. It was quiet.
Billy then started a scan from Andros' feet on up and slowly up the rest of his body. When he got to his head the sensor squealed loudly.
"That's it. The cuff you are wearing is what is setting off the sensor. It is emitting low level tetryon particles. Just enough to draw the displacement wave to who ever is wearing it." Billy explained.
"That doesn't explain why it did not take Andros and I." Zane asked.
"Has he made any transdimenional crossings?" Billy queried.
"The same amount of crossovers as us." Zane said.
"No that isn't correct, Zane." Andros said.
"What do you mean?" Zane asked not knowing right away what Andros is getting at. Then a memory of Tobius flashed in his mind.
"Tobius!" Zane exclaimed.
"Tobius what?" Jason asked.
"Uh, well Carlos has had the same amount of crossovers as we have. But the cuff has had one more." Andros said.
"How's that?" Tommy asked.
"Well he isn't the first to wear that cuff." Zane paused. "There was another. He was pulled into Nikkolo's realm but he did not survive."
A lump caught in both Billy's, Jason's and Tommy's throat. "I'm sorry." Billy said. "I did not realize that you had any experience with him."
"Billy when I say we all have experience with him, I mean it." Andros said.
"That will explain the extra tetryons. Now how do we get him back." Andros said.
"The first question is where is he. And how do we find him." Tommy said.
"We could use this device and send someone after him." Jason offered.
"Only one problem. If we could find exactly what dimension he is in, how do we get him back. There is no machine on that side." Bill reasoned out.
Zane thought for a second. "What would be needed to travel back and forth?"
Billy thought a second. "Something that could match the tetryon signature of his cuff to get you there and a tetryon generator to get you back."
Andros looked at Zane. He had picked up his train of thought over the bond. "I see what your getting at. Billy what do you know about chronoton converters."
"Well as far as I know it is theoretical." Billy said.
"Well we could say that it isn't anymore." Andros said. "Why don't we use the devices that helped us go back in time? They have there own generators."
"I thought they were destroyed." Zane said.
"Not truly. But they can be reconfigured with a return beacon when we find our intended. We can activate the beacon and be returned here." Andros explained.
"Ok, let me contact Alpha and have him bring them." Zane said. He moved off to have a discussion with Alpha.
Andros moved over to a chair to sit down. His link with Carlos was gone. He was wondering why he had not reacted as severely as when Zane disappeared. Perhaps it had to do with dimensional transitions rather than temporal. Suddenly Alpha appeared with three of the devices the size of wrist communicators. Alpha brought them to Andros and turned to Billy.
"Hey Billy, Tommy, Jason."
"Hey Alpha." Tommy said. "Those look familiar. Didn't we use them to get me out of the dreaded Island of Dispair? And--" It finally dawned on him where else he saw them.
"Yeah these are what helped us find you so many years ago." Andros explained.
Alpha handed them to Billy. Billy began to make the necessary changes. "We only have three. And one is for Carlos. Whose going?"
"I am going." Zane said.
"So am I." Andros said.
"Me too." Tommy said. They all looked at Tommy wide eyed. "He helped me so many years ago I want to help."
Zane turned to Andros. "Andros stay here and help Billy . You have had experience that I do not and I may need you to get us out of there." They stared at each other a second.
"You need somebody who can sense Carlos. You can but you need someone else. And the only person I know of is me." Andros pleaded.
"That's not true." Zane said pointing at Tommy. "He can. I have sensed him testing what is left of the bond we had. He can."
Tommy blushed. "I didn't mean to intrude but it was natural to do that. I don't know why."
Andros looked at Tommy and tested the link. Tommy's eyes grew wide as he felt Andros' mind in his. Tommy felt a passing brush. Then he felt Andros stronger.
"Ok. He can still sense us. There is a fragment of a bond there." Andros said surprised. Andros grabbed Zane's head and brought him close to him.
"Be careful" He thought to him. "I could not stand losing you or him."
He released Zane. "You have only ten maybe twelve hours at most. Ok" Andros said. "Be careful Tommy, Zane. I love you."
Billy hit the button and reality warped yet again.
To Be Continued.