The only chance to save the land
A hero's noble, final stand
Power costs and some might say
It's only stone that passed away
Yet who can say if castle cried
Upon the night that Greyskull died
****
THE END
 |
Disclaimer: Saban owns the Rangers. The children were created by the AstroRangers (obviously *grin*); Starhawk and I just introduced them to the world. The song is from a probably not widely read comic book called, "He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe" issues #11-12. And unless you read those issues, the title of this series (and the portion of the song at the end) won't make a lot of sense to you. But it does to me. And I've found comfort in it since JE Part 2.
Author's Note: In this series, I break my own rules (go rebel! *grin*) because this time PRLG *does* happen 5 years after CtD. I don't have a lot to say here, 'cept I wish everyone here could have read those comic books so they could fully appreciate the song. But that's okay. The important thing is that you know that places, buildings, and vehicles have a life to them sometimes that we don't fully see or appreciate. Never say that a 'thing' was not important 'cause all it really was was 'only such and such composite material', 'cause to someone out there it means a lot more than that. Okay, I've rambled incoherently long enough for this time. That means it's time for me to try to sleep. Thanks to Starhawk for proofing and for putting up with me.
He had left the building quickly and without warning. Plans neglected and mission forgotten, he had not looked back as he had swiftly made his way outside, oblivious to the unseasonably cold weather. It fit his mood and the chill in his heart. He wondered if the others had felt it too, the empty gaping hole in their lives where a loyal friend had once existed.
Footsteps behind him told him Ashley had arrived; he knew she would follow him. She didn't speak, waiting for him to say what he needed to, when he needed to.
"She's gone," he said simply, and was surprised at how choked his voice sounded.
"I know," she answered quietly, putting a hand on his arm. "I felt it too."
He turned to her then and saw their son asleep in her arms. They had been planning the next step in their mission and the child had stubbornly refused to go to sleep. Ashley had opted for rocking him quietly in the corner, occasionally interjecting her thoughts into the plans. At just over two years old he was not the youngest of the AstroRangers' children, even though Andros and Ashley had been the last to start.
He took him from her and held him close, smoothing his blonde brown hair back from his small face. Watching those eyes shut tight with sleep, Andros was glad his son had not been awake when it had happened.
"He was supposed to go flying with her someday," he sighed. "They all were... taking over our places in defense of the universe."
"Like you would ever give up the Power," Zhane joked half-heartedly as he came outside. With one glance Ashley knew that Zhane was as upset as Andros.
In his arms Zhane carried his sleeping daughter. Despite being a year older than their son, the two cousins were exactly like their fathers: inseparable. "She would have been proud to have watched over them... just like she always watched over us."
There was no doubt about whom Zhane spoke. The MegaShip had been much more than just a ship, and DECA had been much more than just a computer, especially to Andros and Zhane. The MegaShip had been a home away from home when they had had no home, no place to turn to when facing the harshness of their life as Rangers. And DECA had been as much of a surrogate parent as the two headstrong and willful orphans would allow. She was most likely the only reason the two Kerovan Rangers had survived those first few years with the Power... children far too young with undreamt of Power thrust headlong into an intergalactic war between good and evil that they couldn't begin to understand. The MegaShip and DECA had seen them through it all.
And more than that, Zhane owed them his life. When Andros had lost himself in his pain and to his mission of blind revenge, the MegaShip had healed Zhane in the hypersleep pod, with DECA watching over him, assuring that nothing would go wrong, that he would get another chance at life.
"Karone's there," Zhane's quiet voice broke into the silence. "You know she would have stopped it if she could have." Andros nodded, knowing Zhane was right.
"We can leave in the morning," Zhane continued. And for the first time Andros turned to look at his best friend. With his moist eyes, Zhane was having just as much trouble trying not to cry as Andros.
"What?" he managed.
"In the morning... we'll leave, you and me," he said, wiping futilely at his eyes with his free hand. "So Karone doesn't have to travel back alone. Now that Kendrix is back and all I mean." For Zhane to know that Kendrix was back, Andros could only assume that Zhane had been talking telepathically with his wife across the many galaxies that separated them. But Andros knew what Zhane really wanted... the same things Andros wanted... to see where it had happened, to know how it had ended, and to have a chance to say good-bye.
"What about-," Andros started to motion toward the building and saw that the other AstroRangers and their spouses had joined them outside. They all stood a short distance away, looking sadly up at the stars.
"The mission can wait," Ashley tried to smile reassuringly as she slipped her arm around his waist. "We can do without you two for a few days. Go bring your sister home," she paused, "and say good-bye for all of us."
Andros nodded and turned to Zhane to find that he too was staring forlornly skyward. He followed his best friend's gaze out into space, wishing that he would somehow see the MegaShip there.
"Right... in the morning..."
|