You Can't Always Go Home, episode 01-01

[Space Red Ranger]

“There is something that does not seem to make much sense. He made the notion that he had seen Cassie more than once hinting that he knew who she really was. It is like he waited until following her would pay off catching us all together. For what exactly? It appeared too organized to select who they should target.”

As Ashley explained the situation to the best of her knowledge Andros moved from his friends over to the two unconscious attackers. He kneeled down at the two tied up thugs looking them over. He put his hand on one of their heads moving it around to examine him. Without any equipment he could not be certain but they sure appeared to be human. Andros had hoped perhaps there would be some marker of a disguise or a mind control of some kind. This was the kind of thing that evil aliens were supposed to be doing not humans, not the people they protected…that they used to protect. He shook his head and pushed the guy back on his accomplice. “Makes you miss the days when you could just teleport away.”

With a sigh Andros stood back up turning to address the others. “Ashley you start calling the police and tell them everything. Carlos you get Cassie out of here.” Andros instructed. He stepped over towards them and explained himself before there were any arguments or questions.

“Even if Cassie was not the primary target she is the one who has been marked and followed. Having her at the scene of an accident which is likely to make news will expose her even more. We’ll tell the police the truth but have them keep your involvement quiet. Carlos you come back in an hour and a half and pick us back up we should hopefully be done reporting this in by then. Cassie you can stick with him or have him drop you off where ever you want.” Andros glanced back at the two men on the ground a small sneer on his face.

“This is not the end of it, first TJ now this. Something’s going on here and we’re going to find out the answers.”He shook his head pushing the thoughts from the front of his mind as he looked back to his friends and former teammates.
“Come on, let’s rocket.” He instructed using their old morphing call as a push to get moving.

[Space Black Ranger]

With a sigh Andros stood back up turning to address the others. “Ashley you start calling the police and tell them everything. Carlos you get Cassie out of here.” Andros instructed. He stepped over towards them and explained himself before there were any arguments or questions.

"Got it," Carlos said with a nod. Before the pink ranger could object, Carlos took her firmly by the wrist and lead her to the car. He was slightly forceful but gentle about it. He hoped Cassie wouldn't put up a fight and that the ordeal had worn her down enough she would just cooperate. It was in her best interest if she didn't want any more trouble or if she wanted to avoid the media and cops. That seemed to be her priority at the moment.

“Even if Cassie was not the primary target she is the one who has been marked and followed. Having her at the scene of an accident which is likely to make news will expose her even more. We’ll tell the police the truth but have them keep your involvement quiet. Carlos you come back in an hour and a half and pick us back up we should hopefully be done reporting this in by then. Cassie you can stick with him or have him drop you off where ever you want.” Andros glanced back at the two men on the ground a small sneer on his face.

"Will do," Carlos said as he opened the passenger-side door for her. Once in, he moved to the other side of the car making sure that there was no sign of the cops or anyone else coming.

“This is not the end of it, first TJ now this. Something’s going on here and we’re going to find out the answers.”He shook his head pushing the thoughts from the front of his mind as he looked back to his friends and former teammates.
“Come on, let’s rocket.” He instructed using their old morphing call as a push to get moving.

Once in the car, Carlos tried to get away from the scene as fast as possible. "You alright," he asked Cassie. He had a feeling she was not in a talkative mood but he genuinely wanted to know. He wouldn't be suprised if she gave him a generic answer or ignored him altogether.

"So where are we taking you," he asked. "You can crash at my place if you're worried that guy might know where you live or I can take you back to your place if you feel it would be safe. I gotta get back there to help Andros. Maybe we can go to Zhane's. He lives in the same complex as Ashley, just not sure which apartment. If we could find it you could stay there with him."

Actually, Carlos was hoping Cassie would want to go back to where she lived so he'd know where she was. That way, she wouldn't be quite so quick to disappear on them again. However, given the situation, Carlos was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen even if she wasn't entirely excited about being reunited with the former rangers, which he sensed. Aside from what he really needed to know at the moment, Carlos decided to keep chit-chat with Cassie to a minimum. He knew she was not in the best of moods given the circumstances and didn't want to upset things any further.

This post has been edited by Ranger X on Oct 27 2009, 04:12 PM

[Space Yellow Ranger]

Ashley realized that her question had had went unnoticed mostly for having spoken in an inaudible tone as the migraine sent another pulse. Massaging her forehead gently, Ashley watch as Andros broke away from them moving over to the unconscious men and knelt down before them. There was no question as he had taken hold of one them in search of something that might suggested not all was as it seem. How Ashley wished at this point Andros’s close examination would reveal something they have come accustom to as rangers even if her heart told otherwise. When Andros concluded with his search Ashley sighed inwardly disappointed.

“Makes you miss the days when you could just teleport away.” Andros pushing the guy back on his accomplice. Words that could not have been said any better. If they still had their powers the two could have easily teleported rather than having to deal with the two assailants. The only flaw now that the world knew at the truth about them leaving the scene via teleportation would still be place under the same felony charges abandoning the scene of the accident. With a sigh Andros stood back up turning to address them. “Ashley you start calling the police and tell them everything. Carlos you get Cassie out of here.” Andros instructed rejoining them.

“This is not the end of it, first TJ now this. Something’s going on here and we’re going to find out the answers.”He shook his head pushing the thoughts from the front of his mind as he looked back to his friends and former teammates.
“Come on, let’s rocket.” He instructed using their old morphing call as a push to get moving.

“Got it” Carlos replied with a nod leading Cassie away. It was best that she had left with him rather than staying around when the police arrived and possibly the media. Also it was in best interest that she recovers somewhere safer. Ashley gave a reassuring nod to Cassie that everything would be all right and began feeling around her pockets for the mobile phone. With Andros staying behind with her would remain honest with the details of what happen without endangering Cassie.

“Even if Cassie was not the primary target she is the one who has been marked and followed. Having her at the scene of an accident which is likely to make news will expose her even more. We’ll tell the police the truth but have them keep your involvement quiet. Carlos you come back in an hour and a half and pick us back up we should hopefully be done reporting this in by then. Cassie you can stick with him or have him drop you off where ever you want.” Andros glanced back at the two men on the ground a small sneer on his face.

"Will do," Carlos called out opening the passenger-side door for Cassie. Once in, he moved to the other side of the car making sure that there was no sign of the cops or anyone else coming. Ashley groans in frustration when she could not locate the phone until finding it lying on the ground behind them. Either the phone had slipped out of her pocket or Ashley did not place it back in the first place. Ashley held onto the phone waiting for the two to take off before making the call.

Ashley look at the former red ranger even worried. The two must had come across some rather troubling news about TJ. Was he all right? Did something happened to him? “Andros…what happened to TJ?” Whatever was going on did not bode well. Cassie was right...they were back in action.

This post has been edited by Space Yellow Ranger on Oct 27 2009, 05:16 PM

[Space Pink Ranger]

"Thank God you are both okay. First things first, have you called the police? If not I can do it. Do you guys need an ambulance? We should probably call one too just to be on the safe side. Even if you are okay these two may need medical attention."

Cassie swallowed. Dreading this turn in the conversation. Damnit, she could NOT afford to get mixed up with the cops again. But how could she explain that to them without the same pitying looks? The same ‘there but for the grace of God, go Cassie’ speeches.

“No,” Ashley said, managing to get a word in edge wise. Though Cassie wasn’t sure which part of the question Ashley was answering before she continued. “They did not give us much of a chance to do even that.”

The former Pink Ranger opened her mouth to speak, to turn the conversation around to the fact that they might, in fact, need medical attention but Carlos rushed right on as if the first question hadn’t even been asked.

"So what exactly happened. You said these guys did this to you deliberately because you are power rangers?"

“What does it look like happened?” Cassie said, losing her temper. Typical, none of them had believed her at the diner. And why would they? They hadn’t had to put up with this crap over the past few months. She shoved her hand through her hair and turned away in aggravation, allowing Ashley to be the voice of calm and reason.

“Yes, that is the long story cut down short to the point.There is something that does not seem to make much sense. He made the notion that he had seen Cassie more than once hinting that he knew who she really was. It is like he waited until following her would pay off catching us all together. For what exactly? It appeared too organized to select who they should target.”

Right, Cassie thought. Cause people always make sense. Especially in numbers. That’s why there were so many hate groups. So many senseless acts of violence all over the country.

She tried to seethe quietly, but she could feel the blood rushing to her face, heating up and knew she’d be as red as a tomato. Why couldn’t they get it? The world wasn’t black and white anymore. In fact, Cassie was beginning to suspect it never had been.

Had they all really been so naive to think that everyone would view what they did as good and just? Hell, there were still people in the world who didn’t support their own Soldiers. Why would they support some punk ass kids playing hero? they knew nothing of the sacrifices-

Oh God. Kendrix. She fought the urge to drop to her knees and cry.

"We are going to need to report this. I mean we can't anonymously just leave these two here. What if something happens to them? Since they are bound you could get charged with kidnapping or holding them against their will even if they did attack you. You could also be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. As bad a shape as Ashley's car is in, most of the parts will have the VIN number and it will be traceable. Also, she has to consider what she is going to tell her insurance company about this. Obviously the car is a total loss."

Streams of cuss words ran through Cassie’s head. None of them ladylike, or repeatable. There was really no way she was going to get out of this without dealing with the boys in blue was there? She was going to get charged regardless.

Motherf-

“I realized that now, I would rather file out the report with the police. It is easier to do that then having to explain with the insurance company about this. Carlos, you would have any aspirin on you? Right now my head starting to pound again and feel like I need to sit down.”

Cassie felt like she needed a shot of morphine. Everything ached. What she wouldn’t give for a coma right about now.

“Makes you miss the days when you could just teleport away,” Andros said, kneeling by the thugs.

She snorted sardonically, turning to him with a bitter smile. “Yeah hell.”

“Ashley you start calling the police and tell them everything.”

Cassie felt tears sting at her eyes, and she clutched herself trying to keep it together. She was going to jail. They’d threatened to, after all she’d done. She still remembered the Lieutenants face when he’d told her he never wanted to see her again after that last speeding ticket and DUI incident.

“Carlos you get Cassie out of here.”

She blinked, and the tears rolled out as she stared bewildered at Andros. Did he know? How could he? But then, Andros was sort of like that. He always appeared to know more than he let on. But how? When he hadn’t even been on earth that long? Was she that transparent?

“Even if Cassie was not the primary target she is the one who has been marked and followed. Having her at the scene of an accident which is likely to make news will expose her even more. We’ll tell the police the truth but have them keep your involvement quiet. Carlos you come back in an hour and a half and pick us back up we should hopefully be done reporting this in by then. Cassie you can stick with him or have him drop you off where ever you want.”

Cassie swallowed. Her name would still be mentioned…but at least she wouldn’t have to deal with them herself. Unless they came to her door. But she’d deal with that if and when it happened. She nodded emphatically to Andros. “Thanks,” she said, voice shaking.

“This is not the end of it, first TJ now this. Something’s going on here and we’re going to find out the answers. Come on, let’s rocket.”

Cassie shot him a quick shaky smile as she wiped away the tears and made to head to Carlos’ car when he yanked her roughly by the wrist. “What the-?!” She bit the inside of her cheek and allowed him to lead her before getting into the passenger side.

Once he got in on his side, he decided to address her. You know like a human being, she thought. "You alright.”

It was said like a statement. Not a question. And she was livid and planning on letting him know exactly that. She stared ahead on to the road and tried to put her anger in a box and bury it some place deep. Only, there wasn’t a box big enough.

"So where are we taking you. You can crash at my place if you're worried that guy might know where you live or I can take you back to your place if you feel it would be safe. I gotta get back there to help Andros. Maybe we can go to Zhane's. He lives in the same complex as Ashley, just not sure which apartment. If we could find it you could stay there with him."

“Carlos. If you ever. EVER. Tug me like that again, like I’m a friggin twelve year old needing babysitting, I will beat the livin’ day lights out of you.” She said, looking him dead in the profile. “Drop me home, or drop me on the corner and go back for them, I’ll find my own way.”

[Space Black Ranger]

Carlos nodded sympathetically as he was berated by Cassie he deserved it. It had drug her into the car like a child.

"I'm really sorry Cass," Carlos said sincerely. "I didn't mean to treat you like a kid. I... I was just really rattled back there. I realize what you've been through and I just wanted to get you out of there as fast as possible to avoid further problems."

He took a deep breath. He knew Cassie was really pissed right now. All he wanted to do was make things better for her and it seemed that nothing he was going to say was going to. In fact, he felt like the more he talked the deeper the hole was getting with her.

The silence was very awkward though and he needed to fill it. He wanted Cassie to know he really was sorry about what happened and wanted things to be okay between them.

He just nodded to her when she said to drop her at the corner. "Just tell me what intersection is close for you," he finally said. "I'd rather see you to the door but I understand you don't want that. Will you call me... or at least Ashley or someone to let us know you made it inside? A text would be fine even. Just say 'I'm home.' That will be enough."

Carlos went silent again. The tension with Cassie was enough right now. However, he had so much on his mind about who these guys were and what their intentions had been. Were they just rogue disgruntled men with a misplaced sense of revenge? Did someone close to them die as a result of the attack? Was their motive just to rough the girls up or had their plan been to kidnap them or maybe even murder them on the spot?

[Space Red Ranger]

“Andros…what happened to TJ?”

Andros turned his attention from watching Carlos drive off with Cassie over to Ashley. He had not even realized he’d slipped out his concerns about TJ out loud. As the girls would have had no idea of the trip he and Carlos had taken or the news they’d learned. Andros sighed thinking of how best and quickly to explain the situation.

“Carlos and I went to his parent’s house. They have not seen him in a year. He has been in contact with them but won’t let them know anything other than saying he is all right.” Andros walked back over towards their two tied up assailants. He let Ashley take in the information and ask any questions she might have, not that he had any answers. He really wished that he did, he wished that he could understand Earthlings at all.

“This all may end up being a complete coincidence. These two punks may just be acting out on their own and TJ may in fact be fine with whatever he is doing. But I’m not ready to rule out that there could be something else going on here.”
Andros kneeled down by the two unconscious suspects again.
“Go ahead and make that call to the police, let’s get this over with as quickly as possible.”
He wanted to check them for clues of any kind. It had been a long time since he had done an investigation and he hoped even without DECA or his ranger equipment he could find something if there was anything to find.

[Space Yellow Ranger]

“Carlos and I went to his parent’s house. They have not seen him in a year. He has been in contact with them but won’t let them know anything other than saying he is all right.”

Ashley followed Andros’s movement back over to the two unconscious quietly. It was not uncommon for them to let their families know that they were all right in some form keeping certain details out in order to ensure that they would be protected. Having to include your friends where you might be or what is going on, Ashley could only assumed that whatever type of situation TJ might be facing that he was doing so to protect them as well. Surely if the situation arises that it was beyond his hand the former blue space ranger would reach out to them. It did not mean she have to like it though.

“This all may end up being a complete coincidence. These two punks may just be acting out on their own and TJ may in fact be fine with whatever he is doing. But I’m not ready to rule out that there could be something else going on here.” Andros continued kneeling down by the two bounded men. Ashley smiled briefly towards his optimism that no matter how big or small were connected somehow and TJ was following another trail, which will draw them all together. “Go ahead and make that call to the police, let’s get this over with as quickly as possible.” Despite the lack of equipment Andros searched for something if anything to give them a better idea. Looking down Ashley understood better why Andros’s did not understand the people of Earth more. Even if there were those that thought no less of what they done, there are those who viewed things differently.

Taking the mobile phone security lock off Ashley proceeded to dial the number not taking her eyes off Andros or the two thugs. As much wanting to get this whole ordeal over with, she could not shake off the feeling that when she awakes the next day if it all had been a dream. After the third or fourth ring a dispatcher’s voice greeted her from the other end.

“Hi” Ashley answered, “I would like report a near hit-and-run heading southbound. My name is Ashley Hammond.” The entire event was retold to the dispatcher leaving only Cassie out of the retelling details. Thankfully the person on the other end was easier to speak with that made it easer than what she would need to do come tomorrow afternoon. “Thank you. I shall remain on the line till they arrive”

[Space Pink Ranger]

Carlos nodded, seemingly very conscious of his behavior. Cassie wasn’t sure whether to cut him some slack or be even more offended. She wasn’t really sure what to feel at all. "I'm really sorry Cass."

“You’d better damn well be,” she mumbled, making herself more comfy as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I didn't mean to treat you like a kid. I-“ He took a moment to deliberate. “I was just really rattled back there.”

She snorted, on a take-no-prisoners-roll. “Join the frakin’ club, Carlos. Was in a car wreck and got jumped by two whack-jobs remember?”

“I realize what you've been through and I just wanted to get you out of there as fast as possible to avoid further problems."

Damn. She didn’t have a smart ass comment for that. She didn’t even have an ungrateful-on-the-verge-of-losing-her-damn-mind comment to that.

She huffed, trying to calm herself. It wasn’t his fault, not really, bad she really, really needed someone to take out her frustrations on. The silence stretched on, and she was comfortable with it so long as she could breathe and get her emotions under control. They were too close to the surface for her liking.

"Just tell me what intersection is close for you," Carlos said, trying to keep his attention on the road. "I'd rather see you to the door but I understand you don't want that. Will you call me... or at least Ashley or someone to let us know you made it inside? A text would be fine even. Just say 'I'm home.' That will be enough."

“Damnit Carlos,” She said, her voice cracking, a sob wracking its way up her throat as tears slipped from her eyes. She put her hand over her face to hide it, but she knew he’d heard. “Just-just drop me home! Don’t you get it? You can’t trust me ok?! I’m a basket-case and I keep making everything worse for everything else. Ever since Kendri-…” a whimper cut off her words, and she was lost in her own pain, not able to form another blessed coherent sentence. She felt herself shaking and bit back a curse.

[Space Black Ranger]

"Just tell me what intersection is close for you," Carlos said, trying to keep his attention on the road. "I'd rather see you to the door but I understand you don't want that. Will you call me... or at least Ashley or someone to let us know you made it inside? A text would be fine even. Just say 'I'm home.' That will be enough."

“Damnit Carlos,” She said, her voice cracking, a sob wracking its way up her throat as tears slipped from her eyes. She put her hand over her face to hide it, but she knew he’d heard. “Just-just drop me home! Don’t you get it? You can’t trust me ok?! I’m a basket-case and I keep making everything worse for everything else. Ever since Kendri-…” a whimper cut off her words, and she was lost in her own pain, not able to form another blessed coherent sentence. She felt herself shaking and bit back a curse.

"Hey it's okay," Carlos said. "You've been through a lot. I know things are bad right now but eventually it's gonna get better. You just have to believe and trust in that. I wish I could make it better for you right now. I can't tell you when and maybe things will get worse before they improve. It may even be along time... but at some point things start to look up. I can't be any more honest with you than that."

Carlos would give anything to make things okay right now. If he could take all of her pain and grief and shoulder the burden for her, he'd do it without a second thought. The former black ranger thought back to the time when he was in the former pink ranger's shoes. Back when he'd accidently injured Cassie and left the team over his guilt. In his darkest hour his mentor Adam had been there for him.

He'd put his life on the line to save Carlos by risking morphing with the damaged mastodon coin. Carlos wished he could be like Adam right now. Adam always knew what to say and had always been there when Carlos needed guidence. What he wouldn't do right now to have him here to tell him how to make Cassie feel better.

As they got closer to town, Carlos glanced at Cassie. "So... where we going," he asked her finally.

[Space Pink Ranger]

"Hey it's okay, You've been through a lot. I know things are bad right now but eventually it's gonna get better. You just have to believe and trust in that. I wish I could make it better for you right now. I can't tell you when and maybe things will get worse before they improve. It may even be a long time... but at some point things start to look up. I can't be any more honest with you than that."

Bullshit, she wanted to scream back at him, but all her mouth was able to produce were sobs. Everything had just gotten worse over time, mostly because she had let it, but the drinking and the partying and the disguises, that was her life now.

She didn’t think she could ever go back to being a good, decent human being again, not after what she’d seen and heard and been subjected to the last few months.

And that just made her want another cold hard drink.

Miserable wretch, she thought to herself. How had her life gotten so turned around?

"So...” Carlos started and Cassie really wished she had a napkin or something to wipe her face with. She must look like hell served cold. “Where we going?"

Cassie took a few snuffling breaths to try to get herself under control. When she thought she could speak properly without her voice cracking, she did. Her voice meek and soft. “Back into town. Alecia Avenue, near the groves. It’s not such a good neighborhood, you might want to lock your doors.” She couldn't count the number of times she'd almost gotten robbed outside her own apartment. They hadn't known who they'd been messing with though.

I guess in the end, they were all just miserable wretches.

[Space Red Ranger]

Andros had finished examining the bodies of their two captives by the time the police and emergency workers arrived. He hadn’t found anything out of the ordinary on them. Wallets only carried their id and a few dollars. One of them had a matchbook from a bar, the one he had probably picked up Cassie at. He did find a concealed pocket knife and that was about it. As far as Andros could tell these two were exactly what they appeared, just two idiot nobodies with a grudge against him and his friend.

When the police arrived Andros worked with Ashley to tell the officers the whole story, explaining the crash and the attack caused by the two men. They informed them of Cassie’s involvement and their wish to keep it under wraps and they explained how Andros and Carlos became involved. They even told them their theory that the two might not have acted alone. The police believed the former heroes without question and the two men were handcuffed and taken away in an ambulance to be treated and processed.

The media did not seem to pick up on the story as much as the heroes feared. By the time the two men were being taken away only two reporters had shown up and none with a film crew. Pictures were taken of the scene and Andros and Ashley were asked several questions which they replied to with as brief and nondescript answers as possible.

Soon enough the reporters left. After getting all the statements, facts, and evidence needed the police began to move out. It was about forty minutes later when the tow trucks were hauling away the damaged vehicles and the last police officer once again offered the two a ride.
“No that’s all right officer Grayson we’ll be fine.” Andros reassures the policeman before pulling his cellular phone out of his jacket.
“All right then. If you guys need anything do not hesitate to call. This kind of action is our job after all.” The officer said giving them both a nod before heading back to his patrol vehicle.
Running down the small contact list he found Carlos’s phone number and began calling it. “Hello? Carlos? The coast is clear it’s safe to come get us.” He informed his former teammate simply and waited for his response.

Once the conversation ended Andros hung up his phone putting it away. He looked towards Ashley giving her his full attention.
“Well that was an exciting night.” Andros badly joked trying to ease the mood of the whole situation for her. “How are you holding up Ashley?”

[Space Black Ranger]

Carlos simply nodded to Cassie and kept driving. If she was in as bad a neighborhood as it sounded Carlos would be sure to walk the former pink ranger to the door or at least make sure she made it inside. She'd been through enough tonight.

As Carlos followed Cassie's instructions he turned into the area she had indicated. "Okay, so here we are," Carlos said. "This is definitely not a safe area. No corner drops. Just tell me where you're at. I won't walk you to the door if you don't want me to but I am going to sit there and watch you go through the door at least."

Just then the phone rang. "It's Carlos," he said. "What's up?"

“Hello? Carlos? The coast is clear it’s safe to come get us.” He informed his former teammate simply and waited for his response.

"Okay, just about to Cassie's place now. I'm going to make sure she gets in okay and then I'm on the way. Any problems with the cops or the reporters?"

Carlos looked over at Cassie. "Andros says the coast is clear. As soon as we get you in safely I'm gonna go get him and Ashley," the former black ranger said.

Carlos was ready to get the night over with. There had been way too much drama and excitement. He hoped this whole incident was going to prove to be nothing more than a one time incident and a case of Cassie just making some bad decisions that could all be worked out tomorrow when she had a clear head.

The black ranger's heart told him otherwise though. There were too many questions about TJ and the fact that 6 of the 7 of them had mearly run into each other by random chance was too much of a coincidence. One thing Carlos had learned from being a ranger is there was definitely something called fate and it had a funny way of making things happen the way they did.