"Well?" Andros asked.

"But how? I mean, I've never done anything like this before." Ashley told him.

"Concentrate on pushing or pulling the ball. Don't pay attention to the colors," he told her.

"Okay."

"I'll start it." He concentrated on the ball, and it expanded to three times it's normal size. Then he pushed it toward her.

*Slow Down. * Ashley thought at the ball. It did. She then held out her hand, and the ball stopped one inch from it.

"That was good, Ash!" Andros said excitedly.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. She then pushed it back to him. Andros almost didn't catch it.

"Are you sure you've never done this before?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because you do it like a pro."

"Wow! Really?" she asked.

"Yes, try this." He thought, *I love you. *

*I love you, too. *

*So you can do Telekinesis and Telepathy. I should take you to see Kinwon, but I don't know where he is. *

*I'm sorry. *

He pulled her into an embrace, "Don't be. I miss him and my people, but I'll find them someday." He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. At first, she was surprised, but then she returned it enthusiastically.

Suddenly, she heard, *Ashley, slow down, please. * She pulled away.

"Sorry, I just . . . I guess we should take this slowly. It's new to you, isn't it?"

"Yeah, sorry,"

"Don't be. It's okay, I'm a very patient person."

"Thank you. If I were you, I couldn't do what you're doing for me."

"Andros, I love you. That's why I'm doing this, okay."

"Okay." He then leaned forward and kissed her passionately. Two minutes later he pulled back.

"Wow!" was all she could say.

"That's so you know what the future holds for us."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Angel Grove High is having it's school dance, and I was wondering . . ." she started.

"Ashley, would you mind if I escorted you to this dance?" he asked.

*Not at all. *

*You're incredible, you know that? *

*Well, you're pretty incredible too. * she thought at him. She then looked down at her communicator and saw what time it was. "I've got to go now. I promised Adelle I'd help her out at the Surf Spot."

"That's okay. DECA, take the Megaship to Earth."

"Thanks," she said. She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss. "See ya."

"See ya," he responded back.

"Andros did," the computer responded.

*Good. Now Ashley will have to come back to me. Her grandmothers bound to be in town. *

"We have reached Earth."

"Thanks, DECA." Ashley said as she teleported down. In the alley behind the Surf Spot, "Don't move," a voice commanded Ashley. The voice moved closer and grabbed Ashley's hands. He tied them up, blindfold her and gagged her.

*No. * she thought.

"This wouldn't hurt so much and I would be done faster if you quit squirming" the voice told her as she struggled.

*Andros.* she mentally screamed, but didn't get a response.

He finally got up, redressed her, and untied her hands. Then, quickly ran away. She took the blindfold and ducktape off. She was bleeding. Instead of going into the Surf Spot, she teleported back up to the Megaship.

"There you are. Adelle called and said she wouldn't need your help after all. Ash? Oh, my God, you're bleeding. What happened?" Andros asked.

She didn't answer, she just ran towards her room crying and ashamed.

"What happened, Ashley?" he asked. She turned around and fell into his arms. "I'm taking you to the Med. Bay. DECA, have Cassie meet us there."

"Andros, what was so urge . . .? Ash, what happened?" Cassie asked.

"I . . .I was . . . I was raped," she said dissolving into tears again.

"Andros, can you leave for a second? I need to check her out. Then, you can come back and bandage her wounds.

He nodded and Cassie went to work. A few minutes later she let Andros in. "She wants you in here. DECA's running test on what I got, to narrow down the suspects. Will you take care of her?" she asked and left.

Ashley was just laying on the patient bed waiting for him to come in.

*Hey, beautiful. * he thought to her.

She thought back at him, * I'm not beautiful. Look at me, I was raped.

*"Don't say that. DECA, have you narrowed it down any?"

"As far as I can get it right now. It could be almost any guy in Angel Grove with the exception of former Rangers."

"What?" they said together.

"I'm running further test, though."

"DECA, may I have a bone scanner?" he asked and it appeared in his right hand. "Okay, let's see. No, broken bones, but you have a sprained ankle and a lot of bruises. Otherwise you'll heal quickly."

"Andros?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

"You don't need to ask," he said leaning down and kissing her. She flinched, "Sorry," he told her.

"It's okay. I just really want to get into my pajamas and go to bed."

"Alright, here," he said picking her up. He carried her to her room and she got into her pajamas. When she came out, she handed him a bag. "It's my clothes," she told him.

"Here, DECA," he said as they disappeared.

They quietly walked to his room. Carlos passed by them and Ashley immediately fell into Andros' arms.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Can I tell you later?" she requested.

He nodded. They reached his room and walked in. "Okay, now what's the matter?" he gently asked.

"I guess I'm just scared to be around other guys right now."

"DECA, what do your results show?" he asked.

"It was Alan Ricardo Vargos. He is the brother of Carlos," the computer confirmed.

"Oh, my God, Andros, what are we going to do?"

"I'm going after Ricardo."

"No, you're not. Andros, promise me you won't. DECA, send all your evidence to the Angel Grove Police Department."

"I promise."

"I've sent the information."

"Are you Alan Ricardo Vargos?"

"Yes, I am." he told the officer.

"You're under arrest," the officer told him then read him his rights and put him in the car.

Cassie, Carlos, and TJ teleported to the Megaship.

"Ricardo was just arrested." TJ told Andros and Ashley.

"We know." Andros said.

"He's the one that . . . that raped me." Ashley told them.

"He did what?" TJ asked.

"He raped her, TJ. " Andros said.

"I can't believe that my older brother did that to you." Carlos said.

"Neither can I, Carlos." Ashley told him.

"Rangers, you all need some rest." DECA told them.

"Ash, are you going to sleep in your room tonight?" Cassie asked her friend.

"No, I'm going to sleep in Andros' room." she told her.

"Goodnight," TJ said.

"'Night," they all responded, as they went to the living quarters and went to bed.

To be continued...