And So Life Goes On, Part 2
By ZeoViolet

Cassie was the first to make it to the designated meeting spot at Angel Grove Park by the lake. She hopped across a few large rocks while waiting for the rest to arrive, contemplating what an old ally of the Zeo Rangers could possibly need from them. She knew Tommy and Kat well, they told her and her friends a lot of the history of the Power Rangers, so the name Trey of Triforia was not new. Still, after an absence of several months, she wondered why he was appearing again so suddenly.

Andros was the next to arrive, sullen and quiet as usual. Still, something about him make Cassie give him a hard glance.

*There *is* something different about him*, she thought, noticing the subtle difference Ashley had noticed in him earlier. He seemed nervous, he was not looking her in the eye, and their was color on his face. *He's really acting *weird.*

"Hi, Andros" she said, giving him one of her famous smiles. He mumbled a response and climbed up onto a high rock, taking no further notice of her as the others arrived.

Cassie shrugged, by now used to his mumbled responses to questions and his constant rubbing of their inexperience in their faces, reminding them that he still considered them only *planetary* rangers and knew absolutely nothing about space. It was only recently that they discovered that they could break through his barriers on *any* level and call him a friend.

TJ arrived next, still dressed for baseball practice. Cassie only smiled to herself as she saw him take off his protective headgear and fan his face with it. Typical TJ.

Ashley and Carlos came running up, or rather, Carlos was chasing Ashley as she ran, laughing, and holding her sides. Cassie did not know what was so funny, but she could not help grinning at the pair–until she noticed Andros turn his gaze in their direction. She was startled to see an angry scowl flash across his face before it resumed it's normal impassivity. If he had been any other person, she would have sworn it was jealousy. But this was *Andros*…

It took a few more minutes before Trey showed up. Somewhere in the distance, there was a barking of a dog, one that struck Cassie as familiar. But before she could dwell on it, Trey came around the bend in the path and approached them, looking pale and slightly spooked.

Cassie did not even bother with formal greetings. "Are you okay, Trey?" she asked, concerned.

He nodded. "I believe so. It was just this….large golden creature that made a strange gutteral sound at me, that is all. Rather startled me."

Cassie frowned. "'Golden creature'? A dog?"

"If that is what you call those beasts."

"I thought that bark sounded familiar," Cassie muttered, scrambling down from the rock she had been sitting on. "Just a sec, guys, I'll be right back."

She hightailed it down the path and around the bend, with the other rangers looking after her in curiosity. Then, a large bark was heard again, and Cassie came running, dragged along by a huge golden dog on a leash. The dog saw the Rangers and barked happily, trying to get closer.

"Jetson, you silly dog, slow *down*!" Cassie panted, tugging on the leash and digging her heels in so he could not get the best of her. "How did you get out, anyway? I thought I had locked the gate before I left! And how did you get your leash on–"

She stopped as she noticed Trey going completely sheet-white while he stiffened considerably. Cassie frowned, puzzled. "It is okay. This is my dog, Jetson. He won't hurt you."

"I expect not," he said at last, "But on Triforia, there is an animal that looks very similar….but they are highly…carnivorous. Rare, but still…."

Cassie thought she understood. "Well, most dogs on Earth won't attack, unless they have been trained as attack dogs. Jetson here won't jump on you unless he wants to play. But I still don't understand how he got out," she mused as Trey relaxed and turned a bright red, realizing how silly the whole situation was.

"Jet*son*!" cried a male voice, one that seemed to be losing patience. "Where are you, you silly dog!"

Ashley seemed to recognize the voice. "Johnathan, is that you?" she called.

"Ashley?" said the voice, as a handsome boy came around the corner. "Have you seen that dog of Cassie's? He ran this way–oh," he whispered suddenly, noticing who else was present. "You busy, Ashley?" she was glad that her twin brother knew she was a Power Ranger.

"Jetson's here," Ashley assured him, indicating Cassie. "Cassie found him. What'd you do, let him loose?"

"After Cassie left, I was going to take him for a walk, and when we got to the park, he got all excited and tore toward some strange guy–why, that was you!" he noticed Trey among the group. "Really, Ash, is there a problem?"

Ashley sighed and smiled. Only Cassie had ever met her brother, because she lived with the Hammonds, and besides, Johnathan was not around much. So she had to introduce them.

"There might be, Johnathan," she murmured. "Guys, this is my twin brother, Johnathan. And don't worry, he knows about us being Power Rangers. I had to tell him and my mother after my first little adventure in space."

"She sure did," said her handsome brother. "About the only time in my life I about fainted–from shock, anyway."

Ashley smiled as she rattled off the introductions of the rest of her teammates. "And that boy who Jetson scared is Trey. He's–not exactly from around here, Johnathan," she stumbled, wondering how to tell him how far away Trey definetly came from.

"When I saw him with you, I thought not," Johnathan said levelly. "Nice to meet you, Trey. I hope you don't mind my asking–but where are you from? Jetson never caused a reaction like that in anybody else before."

"My planet is called Triforia," Trey answered evenly, looking Ashley's brother in the eye.

"Cool." Johnathan only shrugged and smiled. "I'll be nearby with the dog, Ash. Holler if you need me." With that, he turned and jogged off, Jetson running happily behind him, ready to play.

"So, what is going on?" Cassie managed to ask at last. Trey sighed, sitting up straighter as he put the last of the dog incident out of his mind.

"Dark Spectre is sending in some dangerous new minions to aid Astronema in conquering Earth first, then the rest of this sector of space. I seriously doubt that the Lightstar powers would be able to defeat them alone. And after Earth is conquered, they will go after certain other nearby worlds with powerful Rangers that protect the planet. Triforia will most likely be included in the onslaught. I am their only Zeo Power Ranger, but it is still seen as enough of a threat. They must be stopped, here and now." he paused, thinking. "There is one other danger to add to this little mix. Rumor has it that Astronema has gotten hold of a dangerous device. I expect it is a weapon, in a way, but not in the traditional sense. It brings a person's most painful memories and feelings up front, and maginifes them, thus driving the afflicted person insane with greif, pain, anger, rage, or any other negative feeling that is encountered. If it afflicts them too long, it will leave the person an emotional wreck, livid with guilt and pain." For some reason, Trey shuddered, and Cassie was surprised to see a flash of sadness in his eyes, and guilt. But he did not elaborate. "This weapon will also have to be destroyed."

"And you are certain that the six of us could do it?" asked Ashley, wrapping her arms around her knees, and resting her chin on them.

"Perhaps, if we act wisely. These are dangerous creatures, Ashley, and I believe it would be easier if we used our brains instead of the brawn of our powers. Plus, we may have one more source of help. The one you know as the Phantom Ranger was at a meeting of Eltarans recently. I did not attend, but rumor has it he also volunteered to face this army. It is said Earth holds a great deal of personal importance to him, though I am not sure why. I've never met him."

Cassie blushed and lowered her eyes. It had been three weeks since the Hercuron incident. She hoped that he was alive, and well. If he died, it would be her own heart, too, that would die.

Thankfully, only Ashley seemed to notice her reaction. She laid a hand on Cassie's shoulder and squeezed it gently. Cassie gave her a grateful smile before returning her attention to Trey.

"Do you have any idea as to how we should go about this?" she asked.

For the first time, Andros spoke up. "Maybe it would be best if we split into two groups, each group focusing on one directive." His hazel eyes glowed, as if he was grateful to have something to finally focus on, besides his hands.

"I agree," said Trey. "You, Ashley, and Carlos could go after the weapon Astronema has. TJ, and Cassie could come with me, if your Astrozord is capeable of being piloted by one or two rangers."

"It is," answered Andros. "They will be perfectly capeable of piloting the Zord by themselves. I trust them."

His words made Ashley stare at him in astonishment. If that was the case, then why had Andros never acted like this before? She sincerely hoped that he was not merely putting on an act for Trey's sake. She would literally kill him if he was. At any rate, at least, she would never forgive him.

And so, at least, that basic part was settled. What was not settled was the certainty of the actions they were about to undertake.

"IIIII Rrrrreeaallllyyyyy hhhaaaaatttttte ttthhhhiiiisssss!!!!" yelled Cassie, holding onto her console as the Megaship twice flipped a complete 360 degrees, whirling from the latest blast it had taken.

"So do I!" yelled TJ over the din. "But Trey said to keep them distracted while he finished preparing that computer virus to infect their systems! Hold on, Cass!"

"I'm trying!" Cassie summoned up the Megalasers and bashed one of the nearby ships with it, almost satisfied as it went out in a brilliant yellow-orange glare of flame. "Gotcha!"

"Nice shot!" TJ called, wishing he could see Cassie's grin behind her morphed helmet. "Hey, Trey, you about ready?"

"Just about!" he called over the comm system. "Keep them occupied for just a few more minutes, will you? Just a few more adjustments and I can put an end to this fleet of ships with just a few more shots. After I infect them, there is a new Megazord formation I want you to try, and our systems should be compatible enough to allow us to handle it. There!" his tone had a note of pride in it. "I am transmitting the data to you now. Cassie, you are in the best position to fire the virus torpedo straight into their matrix. I have confidence you can do it."

"Thanks!" she said as she recieved the necessary data, coded to protect the Megaship's own systems from going haywire. "DECA, download this into the torpedo bay as fast as you can."

"Already done." the computer sounded miffed. "Fast enough for you, Miss Chan?"

"Don't start now, DECA," Cassie complained. "Alpha, is the target locked on?"

"All sensors indicate affirmative," replied the little robot.

Cassie's grin was almost malicious as she reached for the red button on her console. "Firing torpedo."