Lucky Ones
by: Jacqui Beres

It was a Monday when
My lover told me
Never pay the reaper with
Love only

Karone sighed and stared out at the stars. She was now a Ranger, as she was supposed to be when she was a little girl. She should have been elated, or at very least relieved to have the wild left turn her life took when she was five get back on track, but she wasn't. The only thing going through her mind right now was Zhane's words a few months ago.

*I can't stay, Karone. I don't have the connection to Earth that Andros does, and I can't just sit here, relaxed when I know there are a lot of Kerovans still in prison camps somewhere.

What about me? I'm not enough to make you stay? The rest of the Rangers aren't enough to make you stay?*

What could I say to you?
Except I love you
And I'd give my life for yours

In the end he left, and they hadn't really heard from him since. Oh there were reports of a lone Ranger freeing captives and wreaking havoc in the still evil dominated worlds, but no actual word from him. Not even when the rest of the Rangers had been called back into action, not even when Karone left Earth to find the Galaxy Sword.

Karone leaned against the transparisteel and hugged herself. *Where are you? Are you okay? Are you dead? Do you still love me? Did you ever?* Her voice echoed inside her head and she had no answers. She never did. Karone had to trust that Zhane could take care of himself and if he needed her help that he would somehow contact her or the other Rangers.

I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones dear

"I'll have to live with what we had." She whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. Karone knew she should be grateful for what they had shared. So many people didn't even have that. So many people had died at Countdown, as people called it. Even more had been lost when she turned them all into digital slaves. Then there were the ones in the prison camps.

*Stop! You weren't yourself you're Karone. Astronema died that day. *

It didn't always work and she'd been a total mess for a good six months afterwards, trying to understand why she was spared, why she hadn't died on the Dark Fortress.

It had been Zhane who led her out of the dark tunnel, Zhane that she leaned on, Zhane that she loved and trusted. *Do you even know how much I love you? How much I need you? * Her mind screamed.

Remember that time we made
Love in the roses
And you took my picture
In all sorts of poses

Karone turned and leaned against the bulkhead. She shut her eyes tightly against the memories. Zhane picking her up just as Cassie snapped the picture. Of him teaching her telekinesis again. Of him standing by her side as she made a formal apology to the galaxy. Of him holding her when KO-35 exiled her.

Now this. She wanted to tell him. Wanted to tell him that she finally found something that would atone for all the evil she had done. Wanted to tell him that she'd be out there watching his back. Wanted to tell him he wasn't alone anymore.

It's time to say
I thank God for you
I thank God for you
In each and every single way

"Karone?" A voice called out. "Karone, are you ok?"

Karone blinked and wiped her face. "I'm fine, Maya."

"Then why are you staring out the window in the dark?"

Karone glanced around, noticing for the first time how dark it was in their apartment. "I'm fine, really. Just thinking about a friend."

Maya turned up the lights and sat down. "Tell me about him. What's he like?"

Smiling faintly Karone sat down.

I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones dear