Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:08:48 -0600
From: marik_jol@hotmail.com
Subject: in-practice-2

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"In Practice- Pt 2" takes up where I left off in part one.  Same
characters, just expands on the budding relationship between Carlos,
Zane and Andros.  There is four parts to this installment.

Power Rangers, Power Rangers in Space, Power Rangers Turbo,
AlienRangers, and all characters from the series are trademarks of and
copyright by Saban Entertainment. I welcome comments and suggestions.

Send to marik_jol@hotmail.com. Thanks Jolan Tru
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In Practice
Part II

 As I tried to fall asleep, my mind replayed the events of the last
year.  Especially the last three days.  I kept thinking to myself  "what
am I doin" and "I can't do this".  Every time I started, I turned my
minds eye to the two flames in the back of my mind.  They glowed
somberly.  Kinda soft and quiet.  Just knowing they are there, here and
when we are separated soothes me and kinda excites me.

 I turned over on my side and came face to face with Andros.  He is
sleeping peacefully.  I touched his nose with a finger and felt a small
jolt.  The purple flame glowed a tiny bit brighter.  I could see images,
light flashes through my mind.  Andros is dreaming and I see it
somewhat.  Not real pictures but feelings and sensations.  If I could
feel him this way he must feel me to.  I removed my finger to let him
sleep.  I turned over to look at Zane.  His back was to me.  The tattoo
emblazoned there on his shoulder.  I tried to sense his dreams, I tried
but couldn't get anything.  I leaned up on an elbow, his face was
contorted, he was curled in a fetal position.  He's troubled, nightmares
it seems one that is strong.  I felt sorry for him.  Someone so young
troubled.  I was now feeling very tired, my butt was still a little
sore.  I turned over on my stomach and drifted off.

 A loud scream, jolted me awake.  I realized I did not hear anything.  I
felt it.  Immediate awareness adrenaline rushing.  I looked around.
Andros was  bolt upright.  And at Zanes side without any sign of
movement.  Worry, but no panic in his eyes.  His eyes were plastered on
Zane.

"What's wrong?  Is he ok?" I asked Andros.

"He has been plagued with nightmares.  Since he woke from the
hypersleep.  They get worse every once in a while.  Sometimes when he
wakes, its violent.  He thinks that I am trying to hurt him or anybody
for that matter.  He doesn't know what's going on."  He whispered to me
as he lifted Zanes chin carefully.

 Zane had his head in his hands, and was sweating profusely.  The silver
flame was fading and enraging, when it would fade it felt almost gone.
I laid my arm around  his shoulder. Andros pulled Zanes head down till
they were forehead to forehead.  They were quiet.  The flames in the
back of my mind melded together, into one flame.  The flame grew hotter
and bigger enveloping me.  Suddenly I was in a void.  Zane and Andros
were there.  Zane was huddled in a corner.

"Andros, where are we?" I asked.

"We are in Zanes mind.  We need to calm him.  I have never seen him this
far back.  And it seems he pulled you in himself."  He explained
kneeling by Zane.
Zane looked up. And looked at me and Andros.  We moved toward him.   He
backed off.  I stopped moving and looked at him.  Zane looked a little
calmer.

"Zane it's us,"  Andros pleaded.

 He looked from me to Andros.  Fear in his eyes.  What, why is he so
fearful.  What has happened?  Andros shot a look at me.  I opened myself
up.  A light shined in his eyes.  I moved toward him.  I was able to get
right on him and placed an arm around his shoulders.  He turned his
attention from me to Andros.  He reached for Andros.  We stood there for
a second.   Then the real world coalesced around us.

"Zane, how do you feel?" I asked kissing  him on the cheek.

"Better," he said his voice low. "I feel embarrassed.   I ...I"

"Don't....we are a part of each other.  If something is wrong with one
of the others then we will move heaven and earth to help ya."  I said
very determinedly and forcefully, surprised when I said that and
wondered where did that come from.

Andros looked with wide eyes at me.  Even Zane seemed a little awed.
Then we broke into laughter.

"Zane do you want to talk about it?"  I asked.

"No!"

I shrunk back slightly.  Andros gave him a stern look that changed to a
look of sympathy.

"Carlos, I am sorry.  No not now."  I raised and eyebrow.

"That's ok.  I understand."  This time I did not speak it, I thought it
at him.
This time his eyes grew, and Andros grinned.

Andros turned to Zane, "He is getting used to talking with his mind." He
said smiling.

He turned to me and placed a finger on my nose.   "I felt you last
night.  You were so curious.  And you don't have to worry about mind
touching while we are asleep but our minds are open and we pick up
everybody else to.  Makes for interesting dreams."

I blushed.

"He is so cute when he blushes," Zane said smiling like his old self.

"We need to get dressed.  They will be wondering if we abandoned ship."
I said deflecting the attention and the lust beginning to boil.  I
grabbed my clothes and returned to my quarters that I shared with TJ.
He is going to have some questions.

Zane and Andros is going to meet me on the command bridge.

***

I walked through the corridors, feeling my muscles tense and tighten.  I
smiled to myself wondering what is going to happen now.  As I reached
the door to my quarters.  I realized I am facind my worst trial now, the
other rangers.  TJ saw something.  Now for the first time since
yesterday I was worried.  I touched the keypad on my door and is slid
open.  TJ was already up and was getting dressed. He turned at my
entrance.

"Well did you have a wild night?" TJ asked with an evil grin.

I blushed as always deep, and I felt as if I was going to faint.

He prodded further.  "What's going on between you three anyway?  I saw
something last night but my eyes and the dark...."

I panicked.  Should I say something, tell him?  I did not know what to
do.  I just looked at him and I must have been taking a while.

"Well you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."  He replied to my
silence.

I immediately thought of Andros, hoping he could understand me.  When a
voice in my head, smiled and replied.  Andros said "Tell him. It's time"

I took a deep breath.  "TJ, Zane, Andros and I are lovers."  There I did
it.

TJ stiffened and dropped his drink. "Lovers...then I did see what I
thought I saw."  He blinks a few time. "Hey its cool with me.  Maybe you
want seem so lonely.  Does the other rangers know?"

"I don't think so.  I think Zane and Andros was going to tell them.  I
think."  A mental nod told me I was right.

"I figured they were more than just friends." TJ explained sitting on
the bed and putting his socks on.

"You don't know the half of it." I said to a bewildered TJ.

"Someday you will have to tell me."

"No that is something they have to tell you.  I can't.  But I can tell
you this.  This is not fleeting.", I said.

"Well I don't know if I should tell you this.  But I somehow guessed,
Andros was more than interested in you.  The way he looked at you.
After Zane woke up, they were too close. And I thought he had moved on
past you. You know when you and Andros were trapped in the city with
Sylvia.  You were fighting the goons and when you were knocked in to
next week.  He had a look of horror in his face, then a blood rage.  I
didn't think much of it at the time.  And Zane gave you the same look.
I was totally confused.  You seemed oblivious."

"Well it wasn't till after the city incident that they mentioned it."  I
said.

***

 I thought back remembering that day about five months ago.  I was
sitting in the common room eating.  Trying to calm down from the fight
with Astronemas forces that day.  Andros and Zane were sitting at a
table over on the other side of the room.  They were sitting drinking
something and just looking at each other.  Zane got up first.  And
looked down at Andros.   Andros gave Zane a long hard look.  Zane looked
over at me.

"Carlos, come join us.  We need to ask you something."  He called across
the room.

I went over and sat down.  I knew that something was up.  Zane sat and
tilted his gaze to Andros.

Andros paused a second, moved his chair closer to mine.  "Carlos, Zane
and I was talking about you just a second ago and came to a decision.
We have a proposition for you.  Now hear us out.  What we are going to
ask will be the first time happening.  But I very much want it to
happen.  I must tell you that today, I was worried.  When Astronema's
goons attacked you and knocked you out and you weren't moving, I got
scared, that you were...." He said getting the lump out of his throat.
All I could think of was vaporizing everybody that was between you and
me." He paused seeming uncomfortable.

"Zane and I are....how would you say it on earth..."  He looked at Zane
and Zane looked back equally lost.

I popped in, "Lovers..."

They looked at me.  Then at each other.  "I knew.  Not at first but I
knew.  They way you look at each other.  Andros, they way you looked
when Zanes hyper-tube prematurely opened.  If you are worried it would
bother me. Don't."  I paused somehow knowing that this isn't the reason
for them talking to me.

"Doesn't bother me. Unlike some other people from earth I am ok with the
lover thing." I added.

"While Zane was unknown to you and the other Rangers, I felt like I was
losing myself.  I nearly lost my mind before I ran into some rogue
stowaways in the engine room.  Until I met the dark long haired
individual with the curious accent. I was feeling for you the way I feel
for Zane." He looked at Zane and Zane winked at him.  "And when Zane
awoke and we were able to "catch" up I realized.  I could possibly love
you and Zane.  Zane knew what I felt.  And it was his idea to talk to
you. Well I would," he paused, "Zane and I would like to ask you to join
us." He said laying a hand on mine.  Zane looked at me eagerly.  I
looked at the hand and back at Andros then Zane.

I was shell shocked.  This wasn't what I expected but in a way I knew.

"Oh...oh...don't get me wrong.  I am flattered that you consider me.
But I am not into that.  You are my friends.", I said moving my hand and
shifting uncomfortably in my chair.  I leaned back and looked at them.
The urge to leave was strong.

Andros pleaded with me, "Consider it. Please consider it.  By the look
in your eye, you are uncomfortable and that is the last thing I wanted.
Consider it.  I won't ask again or mention it."  He said getting up and
leaving.  Zane looked at me and then at Andros going through the door.
He shook his head and got up to follow.

 He never mentioned it again.  Everything went back to normal or near
normal.  There would be times that I was talking to one of the rangers
or going about my duties around the ship and  Andros was out of eye
shot.   I would notice him looking at me with an unreadable expression.
The look  tore me up.  Zane gave me similar looks  but also gave Andros
confusing looks.  Yet he was better at hiding his expressions.  Despite
Zane being one of the most emotional and energetic rangers.   He seemed
to have a better, more seasoned control.  There was something about
those looks they gave me.  It didn't make me uncomfortable with them but
with myself.  It was a challenge that I had to deal with when I was
younger.  I thought I was over it.

 I would catch myself going over scenarios and possibilities of their
proposition.  Dreamt, and daydreamed about his proposition for months.
I never thought I would ever have considered it.  Then it was my turn to
worry and ponder lost possibilities.  Andros was seriously hurt.  And
deep down I knew I could not live without him or Zane.

 While he was recovering, I would go to the simulator, punch up a quiet
lake and sit trying to figure out what I should do and how to deal with
the confusion and the sudden longing I had.  He finally recovered.  And
I finally made my decision. I decided to take Andros and Zane up on
their offer.

 I called Andros to tell him I needed to talk to him alone.  He was a
little shocked that I called.  I asked him to meet me in the simulator.
He just looked at me and nodded.  I waited.  I made my mind up as I
called him.  I was actually going to tell him I couldn't.  But his eyes,
and in my mind I played back all our times together.  And I realized
then that I felt similarly.  He and I and Zane would have to go slow.
The door opened to the simulator.  I kept my back to him.

"Andros..."  I started.

"Carlos,  I know what your gonna say...we don't want to pressure you.  I
have a feeling I should not have listened to Zane.  I should not have
mentioned it.  I know the idea makes you uncomfortable.  Just I hope
this won't change us being friends."  He said his voice trembling.

 When I didn't say anything or turn around, I heard the rustle of his
flight jacket as he turned to leave.

"Yes....Yes"  Was all I was able to say.

I heard and almost felt his surprise.  Maybe I did.  I turned around to
see him, he had a cute shocked expression.

"What?....Carlos."  He said keeping his distance.

"Yes...yes.  I would like to be with you and Zane."  Hearing myself say
that shocked me more than what happened next.  I just walked over to him
and kissed him.  I knew he didn't expect that.  I broke away and
grinned.  He chuckled.

"I'm sorry...", I said.

"Where did that come from?  And don't me sorry."  He asked with his
hands on my shoulders.

"I've wanted to do that, since....well never mind .  I need to tell
Zane."  I began.

"He already knows."  I turned to look and see if Zane is hiding
somewhere in here.  I wouldn't put it past him.  I grinned inside.

"Where is he?"  I asked.

Zane took a second and closed his eyes when he opened them he stated,
"In the messhall, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

"Huh?"  I said.

He grabbed my hand, and started to lead me out.  I asked where we were
going.  "Andros where are we going."

"To get Zane, he must be thoroughly beside himself now.  It wasn't just
me who loved you.  Zane had a crush since he met you.  He also has a
little one on TJ too."  He explained.

"Speaking of TJ, I would rather that we keep this under wraps for now."
I said hoping he would not take it wrong.

He looked at me, grinned and nodded.

Zane was delighted.  Said he hoped they never pushed me.  I told him
they hadn't.  I had a few demons to deal with. Then two weeks later, our
mission to find Tommy.  And the rest is current history."  I said
explaining to TJ.
"Wow," he said digesting the thought that Zane had a crush on him.
"That Tommy mission, really confused me."

"Me too, but after we returned I knew why it was important.  I don't
know how to explain it.  But it was important to Tommy and in reverse
me."

TJ laughed. Happy for his friend and a little surprised. "Get dressed we
need to get back up there."

"Yeah." I said movin for the head.  I stopped for a second, my bum sure
smarted.

"You ok," he started.  Then something hit him, and he blushed so bright
that even through his dark skin it showed.  I blushed in response.  He
chuckled and waited for me.

"Oh by the way, we knew.  I mean the rest of the rangers figured it
out.  Not too long ago."  He gave me a crooked grin.  My response was a
slight glare. I blushed and he received a towel in the face.

To be continued...