Everything had been going according to plan. Astronema had gotten the Body Switcher to make her outward appearance match that of the Yellow Ranger. It had been relatively easy to then kidnap said Ranger and ship her off to the Dark Fortress, leaving her free to move about in her place. So it should have been easy from there. But somehow... it wasn't. She hadn't realized how very different the lives of the Rangers were from her own and things had started to go wrong almost from the very start.

She and the Pink Ranger had returned from their walk to break up the rest of the "party" with the news that they'd been attacked. The others had been shocked and extremely dismayed at that particular tidbit -- especially as none of them had gotten to be in on it. The Red Lightstar Ranger had jumped on the chance to send them packing back to the AstroMegaship. This had resulted in an extremely amusing argument between he and the Red Earth Ranger. If she were being honest, she'd confess that the situation had left her rather puzzled. Finally the argument had been ended by the Platinum Ranger. He had pulled the Red Earth Ranger aside to have a heated discussion of their own which ended in the Red Ranger backing off and ultimately leaving the park. The rest of the Earth Rangers had said their farewells and followed him. And then -- to her great surprise -- the Platinum Ranger had done the same. She'd been so sure that he was patrolling in Space with the others... Well, in light of how the rest of her day was going, it was the least of her worries.

Once the drama was finished, the six Space Rangers teleported back to the AstroMegaship. Feeling herself at a loss as the others scurried out from under the Red Ranger's barely controlled wrath, Astronema found herself doing the same -- just picking a random direction and high-tailing it. In retrospect, that hadn't been the smartest idea. Now she was uncertain where she was, and more importantly, where the other Rangers were. She could ask the computer for directions back to the engine room, but professing such ignorance to the ship's resident AI seemed like a surefire way to get herself caught. So, she stood in a side hallway and quietly banged her head back against the wall as she cursed to herself over her own stupidity.

A few minutes later, rescue came from an unlikely source. The Green Darkstar Ranger came barreling around the corner and nearly ran into her. Throwing up her hands into a defensive posture, Astronema ground out, "Watch where you're going, you numbskull!"

Whatever the Green Ranger had been about to say withered and died without even reaching her lips. Instead she tossed back a cross, "And happy birthday to you too, Ashley. What the hell is wrong with everyone? You're the second snit I've walked into in the last 10 minutes! You all get out on the wrong side of the Jump Tubes or something? And while we're at it, where the hell is Billy?"

Well, that certainly hadn't been what she expected. She was going to have to remember to be more careful -- she wasn't the evil overlord here. She was part of a team, part of a group of friends... This was going to be harder than she'd thought. Pasting a fake smile on her face, she said, "Gosh, Aerin, I'm so sorry! We got attacked by Astronema while we were down on Earth. I guess I was just pretty bummed that my party got cut short."

The Green Ranger eyed her with a suspicious cast, "You're sure that's all it is?"

Astronema forced her smile wider -- how did humans do this all the time? It made her face ache... "Yeah, of course. What else would it be?"

The older woman's eyes narrowed, "I don't know. It just seems a bit strange to me, that's all." Aerin continued to pin Astronema with her stare. Just as the imposter was really beginning to sweat, Aerin shrugged and broke it off, "Well, I'll tell you the same thing I told Andros and TJ -- whatever it is, get it the hell out of your system before we have to fight anything. The last thing we need is to have the team divided any further than it already is."

Than it already is...? Before she had a chance to ask for an explanation of that last statement, the older Ranger was around her and heading down the corridor. Probably a good thing, too -- if the Rangers were fracturing from the inside, Ashley would presumably already know about it. She didn't want to give herself away. Not yet. An evil smile playing about her lips, she started off in the direction that Aerin had come from -- after all, if she'd encountered the Red and Blue Rangers, it stood to reason that Astronema might find them if she backtracked the older Ranger's steps. And she was nothing if not a good hunter.

To tell the truth, TJ was getting more than a little fed up. The Dark Princess had them so turned around these days that they were at each other's throats about the littlest things. And Zhane and Andros "taking a break" from each other sure as hell wasn't helping the situation. He felt like their team was a powder keg just waiting for the right spark. And Billy flat out refusing to return to the ship, in spite of Andros ordering him otherwise, might have been that spark. For goodness sake, Andros had even tried to take on Aerin! This had to stop.

Deciding it was time someone took an active shot at peacemaking, TJ followed their leader up to the bridge. Once they were alone, the one time Red Ranger put an authoritative snap into his voice, "What is your problem, Andros?"

The Red Ranger didn't even turn at the sound, just continued prepping the ship to leave orbit as he evenly responded, "I have to pick just one?"

TJ slammed a hand down on the console in front of him, "That's not what I meant, Andros, and you know it! If we keep taking our frustrations out on each other, Astronema will have us in shreds in no time. You're our leader, Andros. Act like it! We need you to pull us together at a time like this, not push us further apart!"

Andros paused in his flight checks and let his head droop with a tired sigh, "I know, TJ. I just feel like everything is spinning out of my control right now. I wouldn't even know where to start trying to fix it."

Now Andros turned around, and the open grief and anguish in his eyes rocked TJ to the core, "So, if you have any bright suggestions, Red Turbo Ranger, now would be the time." TJ mutely shook his head and Andros nodded, "As I suspected." Turning back to his console, Andros sighed again, "I'll give it some thought, TJ, but you know I'm no good at this, so I suggest that you do the same. Now get the hell off my bridge and leave me in peace."

Wary of setting off his own sparks, the Blue Ranger, for once, did exactly as ordered.

What luck! Tracking backwards, Astronema had indeed managed to find the Blue and Red Rangers. Not only had she found them, she had found the bridge, as well. Not an insignificant find. She had but a brief moment, however, to catch a glimpse before the doors swished shut, closing both the bridge and the Red Ranger off from view. So busy was she in trying to steal that glimpse that she failed to notice the Blue Ranger as he came up behind her and took her elbow in a firm but surprisingly gentle grip. His deep voice murmured quietly into her ear, "I wouldn't, Ashley. Something set him off in a big way and I think he needs to lick his wounds in private for a little while. He'll join us when he's ready."

Startled and off balance from the assumed intimacy, Astronema actually found herself allowing the Blue Ranger to lead her away from the bridge. As they walked, the Blue Ranger's hand settled downwards from her elbow to link with her own hand and grasp it firmly. Not entirely comfortable with that action, she was nonetheless forced to allow it in order to not blow her cover. And there was something almost comforting in the warmth of the larger hand covering her own.

Tearing her attention away from the joining of their hands, Astronema started cataloguing the rooms and halls that they passed on the way to wherever the Blue Ranger was taking them. She would need to be able to find her way back here, after all. Fortunately, he seemed disinclined to talk for the time being.

Eventually, they came to their destination and it was the Rec Room. Hadn't the man had enough of partying down on Earth? Apparently not. Personally, she could understand the need for a training facility, but not this all-encompassing "recreation" room. Why did humans feel the need for all of this distraction from their chosen missions? It was a concept she just couldn't grasp.

They were not the only two to have chosen to make use of this place, either. The Black Ranger was on the other side of the room utilizing some of the training equipment -- some sort of strength enhancing machine if she didn't miss her guess -- an activity she could at least approve of. The room's other occupant was the Silver Ranger. He was sitting near the large viewport with a mug of some hot liquid. He was gazing out at the stars, seemingly unaware of anything else around him. There was something about his posture... It invoked an unwilling echo in her own heart for she recognized that hunched position all too well. It was loneliness.

The Blue Ranger nodded his head in satisfaction, "I thought he might be here." He turned to look down at her and caught her other hand in his, "Ashley, we can't all continue on like we have been. This team is starting to splinter and we have to bring it back together before Astronema finds out and starts using it against us. If Andros won't -- or can't -- do it, then we'll have to. And we have to start with Zhane. He's the key to getting everyone else back into alignment. When he's off balance, he pulls us all right down with him." The Blue Ranger paused then sighed, "I don't think I'm the right one to talk to him. We get along just fine, but we'll never be close friends. I think it should be you. I'll take Carlos and go find Cassie. The three of us ought to be able to talk to Aerin. Then you and Zhane can go talk to Andros. By then he may be calm enough to listen."

Before Astronema could even gather breath to protest the obvious lunacy of the situation, the Blue Ranger brushed a thumb across her cheek and pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to her lips. With a smile, he said merely, "I'm counting on you." He was away before she could gather her wits to disagree.

What? Whatwhatwhat? She couldn't get her mind to slow down enough in its mad whirl to even begin to compute what had just happened. This plan... it was not shaping up the way she'd intended at all. She'd intended to sneak on board and sow dissension. She hadn't expected to find it already here and be snagged into attempting to fix it! And the Blue Ranger... that had certainly not been expected. She'd heard the intel stating that he and the Yellow Ranger appeared to be forming a liaison, but she hadn't taken into consideration what that would mean to her personally if she were to take the place of the Yellow Ranger. Her hand rose to her mouth of its own volition. She could almost swear her lips tingled from even that lightest of pressures. She had wanted to object, she really had, in spite of the risk to her cover, but something about the Blue Ranger... it was easy to see, in times like this, why the man had once been chosen to lead a Ranger team. He had such a... a force to his personality. It was like an undertow. You could find yourself drawn under by it even before you realized you were in the ocean.

Astronema shook herself free of those thoughts before she could sink any deeper. Enough. The Blue Ranger didn't matter. What mattered was what she could do, now. An evil smirk settled across her features, as Astronema realized what a perfect opportunity the Blue Ranger had unwittingly handed her. She had been left alone with the Silver Ranger, the "key to getting everyone else back into alignment." There was so much potential here to sow discord! Schooling her face into a mockery of sympathy, she strode forward resolutely towards the silent figure on the window-seat. At least... it started out that way.

By the time she was halfway across the room, her step began to falter. That single, forlorn figure... She was used to seeing the Silver Ranger brimming with vitality and good cheer. Normally it was enough to drive her mad, but now... seeing him like this... It unsettled her. She couldn't have said exactly what it was that drove her to that feeling, but she found that she was reluctant to cause the normally bright and vivacious Ranger any further grief than he was clearly already suffering. Just as she started to debate leaving, however, the Silver Ranger took the choice out of her hands.

His voice hardly more than a whisper in the vast space, he said, "Ashley? Don't leave on my account. Truthfully... I could use some company."

And that was it. Now she was stuck. "Ashley" would never leave a fellow Ranger in the lurch, especially given a plea like that. Well, on his head be it, then. You want my company, you've got it. Astronema stepped up to join the Silver Ranger on the window seat. Unfortunately, her life in Dark Spectre's employ hadn't exactly prepared her to have a "heart to heart" discussion with a human. For darkness' sake, she couldn't even have one with the being she considered a father!

Fortunately for them both, the Silver Ranger again took the matter out of her hands. He sighed, still turned away from her and facing the viewport, "Why is it that every time it seems like things can't get any more difficult... they do?"

A good question -- one she asked herself almost every day. But the response she would normally make wouldn't be appropriate here. She settled on a noncommittal, "Life is just like that, I guess."

A soft snort, "Yeah. I suppose so." Now the Silver Ranger turned to face her, "Carlos misses his family, Cassie is like a fish out of water here in space and Aerin is all tangled up between wanting to help us and worrying about her son. Andros..." He trailed off before continuing on a different track, "You and TJ seem to be the only ones among us that are truly happy right now."

Astronema put a hand to her head to massage her brow. The Silver Ranger sounded so lost, so in need of comfort. Every instinct in her head was screaming at her to push him over the edge. But for some reason, she just couldn't do it. Forgetting that she was supposed to be Ashley, she answered him truthfully, "Not everyone gets to be happy all the time. In fact, no one really even gets to be happy most of the time. You just have to muddle through it the best you can..."

With his customary broad smile in place, he finished with her, "...and grab your chances at happiness when you find them."

The smile that tugged at her lips was more real this time, "Exactly."

The Silver Ranger's smile, however, was gone as quickly as it came, "That's just it, though, Ashley. Joy shouldn't be a fragile, fleeting thing and you shouldn't have to spend your life pursuing it just to catch its coattails every now and then. It should be something you can wrap around yourself and hold on to."

Astronema frowned, perplexed at how this conversation seemed to want to go wrong at every turn, "But it isn't. You can't hold onto happiness. When you try it just slips through your fingers."

That brought the Silver Ranger's gaze up to meet hers, a frown line pasted between his brows, "That doesn't sound like you at all, Ashley." The frown deepened, "Is everything all right with you and TJ?"

Damn it! That was exactly what she'd been trying to avoid. She forced a broad smile onto her face, "It's fine! Nothing's wrong between us!" Seeing the Silver Ranger completely unconvinced, she continued, "Really, it's just what's going on with the team lately!" She let her false smile settle into a sterner expression, hoping that the Ranger would buy her act, "We need to hold together. That seems to be getting harder and harder to do. Astronema's just too good."

She allowed herself an internal smile at the self-praise, especially when the Silver Ranger nodded in agreement, "She is at that." After taking a moment to collect himself and shake the remainder of his melancholy, he smiled mischievously at her. It was almost... eerie. It was like watching someone pull on a mask, but the mask was his own face. It felt completely false... and yet, somehow Astronema knew that the only reason she saw through it was because she was used to seeing through people's false promises and fake accolades. The Silver Ranger wasn't going to let this go. She'd have to be on her guard. He continued with, "So, if there are no problems in paradise, what exactly were you and TJ plotting back there?"

Astronema was ashamed to admit it, but she'd gotten so wrapped up in their conversation, she'd almost forgotten its original purpose. She pasted another smile on her face, suddenly sure that she was not fooling the Silver Ranger with it, and said, "Well, we noticed that the team seems to be splintering. He went to go talk to the others and suggested that if I could bring you around, we both should go talk to the R-- to Andros." Damn it! Astronema could only hope the Silver Ranger hadn't caught that last slip.

Judging by the slight narrowing of his eyes, he had. Of course, one who so clearly wore a mask of his own would surely recognize another who did the same. But for whatever reason, he again chose to let it slide, "OK, Ashley. You're right. Let's go talk to Andros."

Standing, he held out his hand to help her up. As she took it and allowed him to lead her from the room, it occurred to Astronema, for the first time, that she might just be in over her head.

It had been relatively simple to get the Body Switcher to make her look like Astronema. It had been even simpler to convince Elgar that she was Astronema and get him to release her. In truth, Ashley was a little dismayed by how easy that had all been. These were the enemies of which they were so afraid? What was not proving easy, however, was getting out of the Dark Fortress. The place was a worse labyrinth than the Megaship had ever been and it just would not do for it to seem like she was lost. Astronema would never be lost on her own ship. She'd be torn to shreds before she had a chance to explain.

Turning another corner and praying she was going in the right direction, Ashley nearly ran full tilt into Darkonda. Oh no! Think, Ashley! What would Astronema say? Jumping back, she whipped her hands up into a guard position and growled out, "Watch where you're going, you creep!" OK... maybe that wasn't quite right.

Darkonda frowned, "Why Princess... I thought you were on the AstroMegaship playing Power Ranger. What are you doing back here?"

Caught without a ready explanation, Ashley found herself tongue-tied. Rescue, however, came from a very unexpected source. The hulking shadow of Ecliptor stepped up behind her, brandishing his sword, "She has her reasons, traitor. You don't need to be privy to any of them." He took a step forward, "Now remove yourself from her presence before I do it for you."

With a mocking bow, Darkonda merely said, "As you wish, Princess," then continued on his way.

Unsure how to respond to this rescue, Ashley remained silent. Ecliptor sheathed his sword before turning to face her, "As I told Darkonda, I know you have your reasons for the things that you do and are under no obligation to share them with anyone... but I would hope that out of respect for the one who raised you, you might have shared this change in plans with me, my Princess."

Ashley ducked her gaze, desperately trying to think of something to say that wouldn't give her away. This certainly hadn't been in the cards when she'd decided to try on Astronema's form to escape! Finally, she raised her eyes to meet Ecliptor's, "The Rangers are proving more stubborn than I first thought they would. I am no longer certain that this plan will work." Mind racing, she finally landed on an idea, "I think we need to send a monster down to Earth to provide a distraction. I came here to arrange that."

Ecliptor frowned, "My Princess, you could simply have sent word, as we agreed upon when you set up this scheme... Against my advice, I might add."

Ashley was feeling more confused by the minute, "But it will work! I just need more time."

The black and green warrior turned away, arms crossed over his chest, "I don't like this, my Princess. I don't like seeing you neck deep in danger. I don't like that you are miles away across space in the enemy's camp. What use am I as your shield when you are determined to go where I can not shelter and protect you??" With that last, he turned back and grabbed her upper arms to administer an almost gentle shake.

And all that Ashley could think to say in response to that overwhelming anguish was, "I'm sorry!"

Time seemed to freeze for a moment as that apology ricocheted in the air between them. Ecliptor ground out, "You're... sorry?" Mere seconds later, he had flung her away and redrawn his sword, his mind clearly as lightning-quick as his arm, "You are not my Princess. I don't know how you've accomplished this, Yellow Ranger, but you will not parade around this Fortress undermining everything that Astronema has accomplished!"

Ashley threw up her hands in defense, "Ecliptor, wait! Before you do anything we'll both regret, let me explain!"

Eyes narrowed in anger, Ecliptor said, "I'm listening, Yellow Ranger... but I won't be for long. Talk quickly."

Doing exactly as suggested, Ashley hurried through her explanation, "You don't want me here. I don't want to be here. You don't want Astronema on the AstroMegaship, neither do I. So why don't we work together? Then we can both get what we want." Holding out her hand to the monster with an unexpectedly large heart, Ashley smiled, "Deal?"

Lowering his sword and looking like the move was costing him dearly, Ecliptor shook her hand, "I don't like it, but... Deal."

Smiling triumphantly, Ashley clapped her hands together, "Great! Here's what we're gonna do..."

Zhane perched on the edge of the console Andros was working on, steadfastly watching as Ashley left the bridge. He shook his head, "Andros, I sure hope you know what you're doing."

Andros sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "You and I both know that isn't Ashley. The trouble is, we don't know where Ashley is. Until we do, we can't risk tipping off the impostor. If we do, who knows what she'll do to the real Ashley?" Voice stealing with resolve, he said, "I won't take the chance of them hurting her."

Placing a calming hand on Andros' shoulder, Zhane agreed, "I know. That's why I went along with this plan, but I still don't have to like it, Andros. We just let an impostor go to run loose around the ship. And you and I both know who this 'impostor' most likely is."

"Astronema."

The word hung in the air like an omen between them. Zhane shook his head, "But here's the weird thing, Andros... The only possible motive that I can deduce from her behavior here is that she's trying to drive a wedge between the Rangers." Standing up, he began to pace, "And I gave her a golden opportunity to do something to push me off balance. TJ couldn't have set me up better for it if he tried." He paused in his furious pacing to look back at Andros, "She didn't go for it."

Andros frowned, "Why not?"

Throwing up his hands in disgust, Zhane slumped down into one of the other chairs on the bridge, "I wish I knew, Andros."

Andros rubbed a hand across his forehead, "I don't like when enemies fall out of their predictable patterns. It makes my head hurt."

"Agreed."

With a final sigh, Andros rose from his chair, "Well, I guess all that remains is to see how this all falls out... And hope that we're all still standing when it's over. Let's get underway."

Laying in their course, Zhane turned the Megaship out into space, with a quiet, "And luck to us all... we're going to need it."

Yeah... no chibi silliness today either. Kind of in a crappy mood. Meh.

Questions, comments, coconuts?

Coming Soon: Astronema discovers that things aren't exactly as they appear and has an abrupt change of heart as her world is turned inside out. How will this affect our intrepid Rangers? Find out... in the thrilling conclusion to the fic! ^_~

-.-;;; Could that have been any more cornball cheesy? I think not.