Power Rangers In Space, Heather Ray [korean novels in english txt] 📗

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She wasn't ready to take that leap... but he loved her enough to help her.

"I shouldn't have to convince you that the Rangers all love you, Karone," he said, the vibration of his speech passing from his body to hers, "You should be able to see it in their eyes... in their faces. If their friendship was fake, you'd feel it. Even if you weren't Kerovan, that kind of lie is hard to miss."

He then began rocking her slowly. "Yeah, they haven't had a chance to know you as you

, but that's something they want to change. And the same goes to Andros. He's so excited to have you back in his life he's on a high right now. But he's very concerned about you; most of all how you're dealing with your new life."

He then released her, and turned her around to face him. "You really should tell him about your feelings. I know Andros better than I know myself, so take it on good authority that he'd do anything in his power to make the transition easier for you."

His smile deepened. "The Rangers wouldn't hold a grudge. I mean, they must know how powerful evil spells can be. You're not responsible for your actions."

Karone's face fell. "I was only under a spell after I joined the Rangers against Dark Specter. For ten years I was Astronema of my own free will. I did horrible things, and I never felt guilt for any of it... until now. And now, everything's crashing over me at once."

She moved away from Zhane with a heavy pace. She then stopped in front of her closed door, and breathed out slowly.

"Zhane, I'm so sorry," she muttered, rolling her moist eyes at her own foolish display, "I mean... I can't believe I'm standing here, pouring out my troubles to you. I'm sure you've got better things to do."

She waved her hand over the sensor panel, and the gray doors slid open. "Thanks for you time. I think I'd like to be alone now."

Zhane stared at her, surprise widening his green eyes. He felt his own frustration build. After all of this... sharing, she was ready to push him aside again. She reached out for help, but she rejected it just as quickly.

She couldn't deal with it alone... that was crystal clear. Her fears were very specific. She was afraid

of being alone, but she was also afraid of letting people in.

He had his foot in the door. He was determined not to turn back now.

Chapter Six

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far,
To change this lonely life

Slowly, Zhane shook his head. "There's nothing more important for me to do... I can't even think of something more important." He watched her face, noting a glimmer of surprise of his steadfast denial of her request. "And I'm not leaving until I get through to you."

Karone's eyebrow arched suspiciously. "Get what through?"

"That Astronema wasn't evil. Ever

."

His bold statement rang in her ears like a soft echo. It was so outlandish she almost wanted to laugh. She stared at him in silence, a look of annoyance flattening her expression. "Very funny."

"I'm serious," he stated, leaning against the far wall and folding his arms. Karone rolled her eyes at Zhane's trademark "cocky stance." It was his method of asserting that his opinion was correct, and that no argument could make him change his mind.

"So, what're you going to do?" she asked, throwing up her hands in frustration. As she approached, her gait almost menacing, the door slid closed with a hissing noise. "Convince me that it wasn't evil to kill hundreds of people throughout the galaxy? As Astronema, I was feared by some of the most powerful villains to ever exist! I earned that reputation by showing no mercy! I carved a path of blood for Dark Specter... and I can never wash my hands of it!"

Zhane could see he was pushing her. Karone was now lashing out at him, her inward-focused anger brewing to the surface. He was very close to cracking that shell of self-hatred she had constructed around herself, preventing her from allowing anyone into her heart. Alienating her from the very people she wanted to love her.

"I've been a Power Ranger for two years... not including my nap, of course... and I've seen what Evil is." He gazed deeply into her eyes, honesty pouring out into the open. "And I knew the minute I saw you that you weren't evil. There's a difference between doing

evil things, and being

evil in your heart of hearts. If you were truly evil by nature, you would've killed me in the park that day."

Despite everything, a faint smile conquered her grim expression at the memory. That was the day... everything changed. The beginning of her restoration. The first time her heart felt anything other than a numb void.

"If you were evil, I wouldn't be here now," Zhane stated, "and neither would the other Rangers. You had us all! You could've killed us. Just because Andros is your brother, isn't enough for truly evil beings to show mercy. A truly evil being cannot show loyalty, concern, compassion, sincerity... or anything like them. Even as Astronema, you showed those things. You were loyal to Dark Specter, for no other reason then real respect. You were concerned for Ecliptor, and even for me, the enemy. And you can't deny you showed compassion. When you attacked Angel Grove yourself, you wouldn't attack the children. That wouldn't stop you if you were as evil as you'd like to believe."

Karone's eyes began to overflow, and she shut them in an effort to hold back the tears. She tried her best not to let her defenses completely down.

"How did you know?" she breathed, her lips trembling slightly.

"Know what?"

"That I wasn't evil."

Chapter Seven

I want to know what love is,
I want you to show me

She gazed up at him again, this time with hesitation. "What did you see, when we met, that no one else saw? Why did you save me from that monster? He would've killed me, and saved you all a lot of problems."

Zhane breathed out slowly. In that brief instant of silence, he explored the feelings that he had pondered every day since he made that fateful decision to override common sense on behalf of intuition. "It was instinct that made me save you," he admitted, "I couldn't let that creature just kill you. I had intended on bringing you to the Megaship brig." He shrugged futily, his grin widening. "But something stopped me from just dumping you into a detention center. You looked so... cute while you were unconscious, and there was no way I could tell just by glancing at you that you didn't need some care. I obviously couldn't bring you to the Megaship unless you were going straight to the brig, so I decided to wait until you woke up." Zhane shook his head again, almost laughing at himself for the complete irrationality of his actions that day. "If the Rangers had found out I gave up the chance to capture you, they would've put out a want ad for a new Silver Ranger. But I couldn't help it. First, you were a damsel in distress. I couldn't ignore that. And after you woke up... you were kinda... sweet."

Karone stared at him incredulously. "Sweet? I shoved my Wrath Staff in your face!"

Zhane answered with a laugh. He knew it sounded ludicrous, but it was the truth... and she needed to know it. He

needed her

to know it. "You were still

sweet. Something deeper than the whole 'powerful sorceress'

mask shined through, and it just hit me. I knew you were more than met the eye. And later, when Andros told me you were his sister, everything fell into place."

She blinked, obviously trying to picture herself through his eyes. it was an enormously difficult thing to do. "And... what do you think of me now?" she murmured.

Zhane responded with his patented half-grin. "You're absolutely perfect," he revealed frankly, "If only you'd let yourself believe it."

Karone blushed at the compliment. She then smiled, his warmth wrapping her in a spiritual embrace so enticing, she wanted it matched with a physical one. Emboldened, she inched closer until their toes practically touched. "Right now," she whispered, her eyes closing slowly, "I think I'd believe anything you said."

She raised her head in sweet expectation. Zhane cradled her flushed cheeks, lowering his lips to hers. Against the backdrop of the planet Earth, and the fathomless expanse of the universe, they lived the daydream that had distracted them both the day they met... a tender kiss in the sky.

Chapter Eight

I want to feel what love is
I know you can show me...

As their lips slowly parted, Karone opened her watery eyes and lost herself in that soft green stare. But it wouldn't last.

"Zhane..." she choked, "I... I can't love you. I don't know how. I can't remember ever loving anyone, or anything. I don't know what to do..."

He grinned softly at her, wrapping his arms around her back just in case she tried to