Disclaimer: Check part one. . .

Author's Notes at the end

First Step
Part eleven: Starting at the Beginning
By: stargazer_1017

"Mmm," Cassie groaned sofly as she rolled over on her side. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Andros sitting across from her, sleeping in his seat. Cassie smiled. He looks so peaceful, and for some reason, this seems so familiar. Cassie stretched her arms and brought her left arm down. She stared at her morpher on her wrist--then suddenly, realization struck Cassie. She quickly sat up in bed, causing Andros to awaken.

He looked at her sleepily, and then he yawned and became more alert. "Cassie, you're awake," he said, relieved.

"Mom, the Phantom Ranger. . .is everyone okay?" Cassie asked frantically. "I mean, the last thing I remember--"

Andros jumped from his seat and gave her a hug. "Shh. . .everything's all right," he replied softly. "It's over."

Cassie closed her eyes and gripped him tightly and looked at him. "He's gone again, isn't he?" When Andros nodded, Cassie asked, "What about my mom. . .where is she?"

"Cassie--"

Cassie swung her legs over the side of the bed and jumped off. Her strength wasn't completely back though, and she almost fell down. Andros moved quickly to catch her before she hit the floor. "Come on, I'll take you to her," Andros replied quietly. Cassie leaned on Andros for support as he helped her walk.

"Andros, where are we going?" Cassie said, frowning. They had just passed the Glider Bay and were now heading towards the Bridge. "Andros--" Cassie stopped shortly when the bridge doors opened and her mother was sitting at one of the consoles. "Oh my God. . ."

"Cassie!" Evelyn said happily, rushing over to give Cassie a hug. Cassie felt Andros let go of her as her mother envoloped her in a hard hug. "I'm so glad you're all right."

Cassie pulled away slightly. "Mom. . .I--I can explain. . ." she trailed off.

"Shh. . ." Evelyn said, giving her daughter's shoulders a squeeze. "I know--I know everything." She shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"That I was a Power Ranger?" Cassie laughed slightly. "It wasn't something that I thought I could share with you, Mom. We weren't on exactly good terms when I became a ranger."

Evelyn nodded, but didn't respond. Suddenly, Andros cleared his throat. "I think we need another break," he said lightly. He smiled. "How about another picnic in the park?"

"Sounds wonderful," Evelyn replied, smiling. She turned to Cassie. "How about I whip us something? You've been cooking a lot these days."

"You cook?" Andros asked, surprised. Cassie rolled her eyes and nudged him playfully.

"One of the many things you'll learn about me," Cassie replied, exchanging a glance at him. Then she remembered something. Turning back to her mom, Cassie said, "Sounds good, mom."

***

"I tried doing it that way," Andros said, holding up the football. "It still doesn't throw right."

"You're supposed to flick your wrist, like this," Carlos demonstrated with his own hand after exchanging a glance with T.J. "Try again." He opened his hands to catch the football and Andros tried to throw it correctly. Carlos caught the ball. "Okay. . .definitely better than the last time."

"You know, this is the first time I've seen Andros been so. . .sociable," Zhane remarked. He, Ashley, Cassie, and Evelyn were sitting on a large blanket underneath a tree, watching the other three throw the football around.

"Really?" Cassie asked.

Zhane nodded. "Oh yeah. I mean, everytime we had to meet other people, Andros would always tell me to approach others. He'd just stay away."

Ashley slapped Zhane on the arm. "You almost make him sound unsociable."

"He sorta was," Zhane replied. "Looking at him now. . .it's kinda like looking at a whole different person."

Cassie shrugged. "I don't think the real Andros is any different from the Andros we see right now--he's just been repressed for so long that even he's getting to know himself better."

Zhane raised his eyebrows in surprise at her comment. "You might be right," Zhane replied, giving a slow smile. "Can't believe I've been away for so long. . ."

Cassie noticed that her mom suddenly looked away. She frowned slightly. "Mom, you okay?" she asked.

Evelyn turned back to her, surprised. "I'm fine," she replied, forcing a smile on her face.

"Uh, come on, Zhane, why don't we join the guys and see if we can get your throwing better than Andros," Ashley spoke up. Zhane gave her a surprised look. Ashley groaned. "Come on," she said a little bit more forcefully. She grabbed Zhane by the arm and pulled him up with her.

"Whoa hey, I'm coming!" Zhane yelped as Ashley dragged him away. Ashley said something in response, but Cassie couldn't understand what she said. She turned back to her mom.

"So. . .what do you think of them?" Cassie asked. "I mean, my friends."

"They seem wonderful," Evelyn replied. "And I believe now I know who was with you that night at the emergency room."

Cassie fought the blush that came to her cheeks--but lost. Evelyn spoke up again. "I guess this means you're not coming home with me, does it?"

So that's what this is about. "Not at the moment, mom, I mean we've still got our mission to complete. But maybe after we're done, then I can. . .come home."

Evelyn turned to her and smiled sadly. "Are you sure? I mean, I'd think you'd have a life by then. . .maybe even someone to share your life with." She turned to look at the group of teens throwing around the football. Cassie turned to look at what she was looking at--and noticed who she was looking at.

"Mom--"

"It's okay," Evelyn replied, looking at her again. "I didn't really expect you to be able to come home right away. I just thought one day you would." She sighed. "Just promise me you'll be all right, Cassie. The way that Zhane was talking about when he described being hurt in fighting. . .it's not really something I want to see you get mixed up in."

"We have the risk of getting hurt when we became Rangers," Cassie said. "It's not something that I look forward to either, but I can't guarentee that I won't get hurt. I can only promise that I'll try not to get hurt."

Evelyn paused before saying, "Then I guess that's all I can ask for." She looked up at the sky and then back at Cassie. "Can I at least get visits every now and then? A mother wants to check on her child every so often, just to know how she's doing, if she's having fun. . .if she decided she wanted to go back to school. . ."

Had her mother said the comment only two weeks ago, Cassie would've been pissed. But now, she knew her mother wasn't forcing--and wasn't invading. Cassie rolled her eyes, but smiled. "It's a deal," she replied, leaning over and giving her mother a hug.

***

"You have spent all this time trying to kill the Pink Ranger--only to fail? You've been using time we don't have Astronema," Dark Specter boomed. Astronema fought the urge to grimace as he spoke. "And there have been reports by sources that you're loyalty may not lie with us."

Astronema narrowed her eyes at him. "Who said that?" she asked.

"It's none of your concern--unless it happens to be true."

"I assure you, Dark Specter, my alliance lies only with you and no one else. Just give me the chance to prove it and I'll certainly earn back your trust."

"Very well, Astronema. Carry out on the original plan that I have ordered."

Astronema hesitated and then her trademark smile crossed her lips. "As you wish, Dark Specter."

The End

Author's Notes: Yep, it's the end of "First Step". Thank you so much for reading it--I totally enjoyed writing this for you, and it makes it even more pleasurable to write when you, as the reader, give wonderful comments and feedback. Again, thank you.
Still some unanswered questions? Hmm. . .I thought I answered all of them *looks around innocently*. All right, all right, everything *will* be answered in the last book which I call "Second Chance". Why is it called "Second Chance"? Well, because there'll be second chances for many of the characters in the story.