Wow. The sixth Fluff Epic is here, using the Ars Amatoria theme challenges. (applause track)

NO. The Power Rangers don't belong to me, they belong to Haim Saban.

Number One: Reaction

Ashley slowly circled the demorphed Red Ranger. Apparently aliens came in 'mega cute' and not just 'weird' or 'cute and fuzzy'. Well, actually, he might qualify for the first half of that last one. But the point was, he was cuter than any human she had ever seen. Unless he was an elf but that was fantasy where everything weird she and the others had so far encountered had been science fiction. Coming around she poked him a couple of times in the shoulder just to make sure he was real.

"You're… human."

He looked at her in a combination of wariness and smugness. "What did you expect?"

"I don't know. I mean… you're not from Earth, are you?"

"Earth isn't the only place where humans live. I'm from a space colony, KO-35. It's in the Karova system," he stated firmly.

"So… you're from outer space?" TJ asked dubiously. When Andros nodded his head in affirmation Carlos laughed in surprised awe. "Incredible!"

Then Cassie came up and introduced to herself. Moving to face the cute alien Ashley added hurriedly with her biggest smile, "And I'm Ashley."

Not smooth at all, part of her wailed. Ashley wasn't sure why but she found herself really wanting to make a good impression on this human from another planet. He was so cute, and was clearly a proven fighter. Anyone who could battle like that and be so cute… although judging from his reaction from TJ trying to shake his hand he didn't know Earth customs. Well, she didn't know KO-35 customs- and neither did the other ex-Rangers.

She waited with her teammates for him to shake TJ's hand. She hoped he would, because they needed his help. Plus Ashley really wanted to get to know him. After what seemed like an eternity, he shook TJ's hand.

"TJ," he repeated the former Red Ranger's name. "I'm called Andros."

Almost instantly the communicator on his wrist confirmed that, telling him it had finished the damage assessment. So Andros (the name fit him) headed off. Cassie then teased her about her reaction to the demorphed Andros. She shoved at her best friend, defending herself by saying, "I didn't know! He could have been a giant lizard!"

But instead he was an extremely cute human. Wow.

Andros was grateful for the time to think. That Earth girl's touch- Ashley's- had made his heart jump. And not in a bad way! Despite the obvious hardships the four that been through recently she especially seemed still bright and hopeful. As if she thought they still could end up on top. And Ashley was the most physical attractive human female he had encountered. Although she and the others seemed nice enough they weren't experienced enough to battle Dark Spector. He could do it by himself; he had to.

Andros had just programed the shuttle to take the former Rangers to Earth when the doors slid open to reveal Ashley. Great, Andros thought darkly to himself as she walked over.

"Shuttle is ready to go. It's ready to take you home."

Now he was repeating himself. What was it about this Earth girl that was frying his nerves whenever she was around? The other one, Cassie, didn't have this effect on him. It was just Ashley, not Cassie and certainly not any girl from KO-35. What was it about her?

"Well how about you?" she asked curiously. "Do you ever go home?"

"To KO-35? No," Andros responded. She didn't have to know what his planet had gone through, what the rest of the galaxy might go through if he didn't stop it. When he moved to get up she held out her hand to help him up.

"Here."

For a split second Andros considered it, but recalling what her pokes had done to his heart rate through his clothes he didn't want to risk actual contact. Besides, he could get up by himself. So he did so, although the flash of disappointment on her fact made him almost regret it. Almost. Trying to focus on the final phrase of the process Andros heard Ashley ask, "You don't like accepting help, do you?"

For a moment Andros was quiet, but then he turned towards her. What he would have spoken was clearly meant to say unspoken because just then the doors opened yet again to reveal the other three former Earth Rangers. Walking over to them Andros told them about how they were all set to go back to Earth. It wasn't their fight any more, it was his.

TJ shook his hand again, apparently he liked to do that. Wistfully (why?) Ashley joined her teammates, waving goodbye to him, Cassie a heartbeat behind her.

Seeing them on the screen back on the planet's surface Andros was tempted to ask them to stay but knew they were better off on Earth. Furthermore, he could handle whatever the galaxy threw at him; he had done so far, hadn't he? So he pressed the control to go back into space.