Sister

[samecgh]

Sister

 

Authors note: I haven't watched In Space in a very long time. Think when it came on.

 

They wouldn't allow her near the controls. The training room was off limits and she had a single room with no one near her. Astronema wasn't surprised, but she was hoping to burn off some energy.

 

Instead, she ended up in the cafeteria, where there was a child. I didn't know the Rangers recruited children. If they have to have a child make their things, I can see why they're having problems finding Zordon. “Aren't you a little young to be helping the Rangers?” she questioned, ordering food from the synthesizer.

 

He shrugged, “The original team was only about fourteen to fifteen.” He looked up and saw her. “You're Astronema.”

 

“Yes. Although my real name is Karone.”

 

“I thought you were evil.”

 

“I learned the truth, and I turned my back on them.” She sat down on the other side of his table, eating her meal while watching him sporadically eat his food while working on technology. “Are you trying to build a energy scanner using parts from a heat scanner?”

 

“Yeah, I figured I could widen the range so they could use it to find unreasonably high amounts of energy.”

 

“So the Rangers can track down the areas and not have to wait for the monster to attack.”

 

“Yep.”

 

“You're smarter than some of the humans I've come across.”

 

“That's why I'm in high school.” At her confused face, he explained, “It's meant for people a little bit older than me.”

 

“Still don't get it.” He shrugged again.

 

The alarm on the ship went off and both got up and rushed to the bridge. Andros was reading the reports. “There are three monsters destroying Angel Grove,” he reported.

 

Justin looked over his shoulder, adding for the rests benefit, “Two are tag-teaming and they're close to the power plant.”

 

“We should deal with the ones near the plant,” TJ mentioned.

 

“Right, but the other one is near people.”

 

“I can deal with it,” Justin volunteered.

 

“I'll go with him,” Zhane said, “Your team will be able to take care of the ones at the plant.”

 

“Right,” he nodded, rushing off.

 

Justin and Zhane ended up dealing with the monster along with a few Quantrons. Justin ended up knocked down with a sword at his chest. The monster was about to strike down when something blocked his move. “Astronema,” the monster gasped.

 

He got back up and readied for attack from Quantrons. Astronema was holding a staff and waiting for the next attack. None of the foot soldiers would attack. Zhane joined along side them. “Leave,” she commanded.

 

“Astronema, why have you joined them?”

 

“I have my reasons,” she answered. “Now leave, before I destroy you.”

 

“I will not! Attack!” The Quantrons attacked Justin and Zhane, overrunning them while the monster attacked Astronema. She enjoyed the fight for a few minutes, getting more of a workout than she had in the past week. But then she got bored, and sent a bolt to fry him. The Quantrons fled after they saw the bolt.

 

On the way to help the others, Astronema muttered, “I like you. Don't get yourself killed.”

 

“You like me?” Justin asked.

 

“Like a little twerp that would steal my diary, but hurt the guy that broke my heart,” she interjected.

 

He nodded, partially confused and weirded. “Most call them little brothers and have you been watching TV with Ashley and Cassie?”

 

“Andros wouldn't fight me.”

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

The first thing Astronema registered was pain, for the tiniest moment until it disappeared.

 

Then, she saw Ecliptor. “Get out of my face,” she ordered. Pushing herself up, she saw that instead of the operating table she had been strapped to before, she was on her bed in her room. The mirror she normally checked out her wigs in showed her face. “What the hell?”

 

“It was necessary.”

 

“Necessary enough to destroy my looks?” she growled. The green, shiny wig that she was wearing was thrown aside. She pawed through her others, trying to find something that would work. She came across a red one and placed it on. It was too long for her now, so she hacked it until it sat the way she wanted it. “It works, for now.” I need to find some way to hide it, if the Rangers are to think that I'm the same Astronema they know me as.

 

I need someone better at this than them.

 

“I need something. Someone who is better at this.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because the Rangers will see this and know I'm not on their side. If I can pass myself off as the old version of me, I can get them to trust me again. Then we can destroy them.”

 

“Then I will get this person.”

 

“He won't come to you, but he'll come for Karone.”

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

Justin was working on a sonic door pick so the team wouldn't have to blow up everything when they needed to get into a room fast. Stealth was becoming necessary.

 

The new communicator started going off and he didn't register it until he looked over. He picked it up and answered. “Hello?”

 

“Justin!” Astronema yelled, trying to project a weak voice and needy tone. “I need your help!”

 

“Andros said you were taken.”

 

“I escaped, but I can't get far. I'm hurt.”

 

“Okay, I can send the team for you.”

 

“No!” she shouted, before taking herself back. He can't be suspicious. “The team's going to be needed soon. I overheard them talking about an attack. Besides, if more than one person comes, it might bring trouble. Can't you come down?”

 

I can't morph for very long, but there shouldn't be any trouble if she's able to make this communication. “Alright,” he agreed, grabbing a blaster in case and taking his communicator before leaving.

 

He was almost at the coordinates that he was given when Storm Blaster tried warning him. “Look, it should be simple. The team doesn't know what happened to her; she could know things that we can use. If I'm not back in thirty minutes, go get the guys.” Storm Blaster agreed and he ran off.

 

“Karone?” he whispered, trying to find her. He spotted what he thought was her head, complete with the wig she was last wearing and ran over. What he saw turned out to be a fake dummy. “Oh no.” Something hit him in the back of the head, dropping him into unconsciousness.

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

Justin woke up with a headache. “Owww,” he muttered, rubbing the sore spot.

 

“Little brother,” a voice coldly cooed.

 

He was still a little fuzzy, the light not helping much. “Who?”

 

Astronema stepped into the light. Instead of the red wig that she had picked out earlier, she had one of the earlier ones, carefully combed over the cybernetics to not show him. She was playing him, trying to convince him that she was on his side. “Don't you remember me? It's Karone,” she played, “I told them you would be the only one to help me.”

 

“Help you with what?” he asked.

 

“I was injured, badly. They fixed me, but it's not going to last.”

 

“So what can I do?”

 

“They had their best on it, but they don't have imagination.” Deciding this would be the best time, she pushed aside her hair, showing the cybernetics. “It works on making sure commands get from my brain to my body and the other way around.”

 

Justin moved to examine it. “They couldn't implant under the skin.”

 

“Most of it is, but this can't be. It's a target; someone sees it and they could disable it.”

 

He stared at it for a few minute. “Why can't they move it so it's less visible?”

 

“The position is best there.”

 

“So, you want me to find a way to make it less visible, hidden.”

 

She smiled, “Yes.”

 

“Okay, I need to see the schematics of the original, and possibly talk to the person that worked on this one, so that way I can find a way to hide it.”

 

Perfect. “Thank you,” she said, “I'm going to get those now.” She walked out, checking to make sure he couldn't see anything.

 

Ecliptor had been watching. “He can't tell?”

 

“I played my part well,” she boasted, switching to the red wig before walking off. “Don't let him see you or any Quantrons, otherwise he'll figure it out.”

 

He nodded, “We have a camouflaged Quatron that we can use.”

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

She checked in on him later in the night, in the middle of wires and metal. He must have felt her, because he looked up. He waved, “I almost got it. I can minimize the majority of the tech and we can almost work it out so it can hide under your wigs.”

 

“Good,” she said.

 

He glanced back at her. Something seemed wrong with her. He couldn't tell what. “Are you okay?”

 

“I'm fine, Justin.”

 

Something switched inside him. She knew it and slammed him against the wall before he could move. “I was hoping to not have to do this so soon, but now you're going to become like me, little brother.” Two Quantrons walked in and started dragging him down to the operation room. The scientist that placed the implant on her looked over Justins new design. “Will it work?”

 

“I believe so. Would you like yours done straight away?”

 

“No, we need to have him done first.”

 

“Of course.” Picking up everything, he walked back out of the room, Astronema following.

 

Justin was strapped down to the table, struggling and trying to find a weak area. The scientist arranged his instruments around before taking a syringe filled with nasty looking liquid and injecting it in his neck. Couple of moments later, he was out. Then, he started working on the implants.

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

TJ was just getting back to the megaship when Storm Blaster cut in front of him. “Hey man, how are you doing?” he asked. Storm Blaster let out a series of beeps and honks, but the real communication was telepathic, showing him Justins capture. “Oh no.” He ran down to the bridge, where Andros abruptly turned around. “Astronema has Justin.”

 

Somehow, it was agreed that not all of them needed to go on the rescue. Andros chose himself, as leader and knowing the way around the base. TJ volunteered himself. Zhane and Ashley were going to be stationed nearby so they could help if need be and Carlos and Cassie were going to be ready for them when they came back.

 

Knocking out Quantrons so their escape wouldn't be stopped, they found the place where he had been held. “Where could they have him?” TJ muttered. As if to answer his question, they heard something crackle down the hall. Racing down, they say Astronema overseeing the scientist. There was blood on Justins face. “What are they doing?”

 

“Nothing good, we need to stop them.” Taking out his blaster he shot out as many of the lights as he could, making the scientist and Astronema duck reflexively. TJ ran forward and knocked out everyone near Justin. Except for Astronema, who went after Andros.

 

All of them distracted, TJ undid the straps on Justin and ran out with him, Andros following and covering him. “We have him. It looks like they were placing a cyber implant in him as well,” Andros told them.

 

“Oh no,” Cassie moaned.

 

“How far do you think they got?”

 

“I don't know. We won't know until he's awake,” Andros admitted. Storm Blaster didn't reject them, which meant that they couldn't have gotten too far. The car immediately started heading back to the Megaship.

 

Carlos and Cassie took him as soon as they were on. Ashley and Zhane had already arrived. “Was it like Astronemas?” Zhane asked.

 

“Streamlined. I think Justin may have helped them and then wound up being the test subject.”

 

“He wouldn't help them willingly, would he?” Ashley inquired.

 

“He may not have had a choice,” Andros insinuated.

 

Carlos called to them. “Guys, I think we may have a problem.” Rushing to the medical bay, they found Cassie trying to calm down Justin, who was moaning. The blood had been washed away, showing new incisions in his skin. Carlos was going over the computer scans. “Whatever they did to him, it's trying to take control.”

 

“We need to get him to someone that would know about this,” TJ said.

 

Andros shook his head and looked at Zhane. “I can't think of anyone,” Zhane added.

 

Alpha, who must have been listening in, announced, “Rangers, I may know someone that would be able to help.”

 

“Who?” Ashley asked.

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

Billy Cranston was walking back to the laboratory when his communication device went off. “Cranston here.”

 

“Billy, there is a Ranger and a robot asking for you,”Aurico said.

 

“On my way.” He diverted himself and headed over to the arrival center.

 

“Alpha!” he called out, seeing his old friend with a man he had never met.

 

“Hello, Billy Cranston, unfortunately, I am not the same Alpha you know.”

 

“Oh,” he said, shocked. What happened while I was away. He then turned to the other person. “Billy Cranston.”

 

“Andros, Red Space. We need your help.”

 

“Of course, what is it about?”

 

“A member of my team, Justin Stewart, was implanted with cybernetics. We believe that it was made to control him. We don't know how to get it out.”

 

Billy nodded, “Show me.”

 

\o/\o/\o/

 

The next time Justin woke up, he wasn't on the Megaship. He wasn't in Astronemas lair either. He wasn't in extreme pain like last time, but it wasn't quite numb either. He turned to see a person that was standing over a computer, muttering at something he didn't like. Tommy showed me a picture of him with the original team. Trying to say “You're Billy Cranston” resulted in a moan that grabbed his attention anyway.

 

“I wouldn't try moving too much,” he recommended.

 

“Is it gone?”

 

“Yes, the cybernetics were disarmed first before being removed by a trusted surgeon.”

 

“My friends?”

 

“Waiting. I believe three are out there and the other three are walking with the Aquitan Rangers.”

 

“You knew Tommy.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Can you give me any good stories?”

 

“Only if you tell me what my friends have been doing since I've been away.”

 

Justin smiled, “Deal.”


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