Chapter 2

"Ashley, he is dead, let it go. He has been missing for the last six months. You should move on with your life, take Kalyan and go back to Earth," Zhane argued with his stubborn friend, "No wonder Andros liked you: you are more stubborn than he was."

"I am not stubborn. You say he is dead, but I want a body to prove that he is dead - I want to bury him and know he is resting comfortably," Ashley argued as she placed a weight back on the rack, "Andros was doing recon on his glider when he went missing. There was no explosion, his signal just disappeared. That does not give me proof that my husband is dead."

A young page quickly ran up to the two of them,

"You are needed in the control room up at the main base."

Ashley shot Zhane a glance and grabbed her towel as she ran out the door. She got to the room first to find Kin-Won standing in front of the screen with some of the other warriors. There was a set of coordinates on the screen. "Kin-Won, those coordinates are near where Andros disappeared."

"Yes, but I am afraid this has been a call to aid in a war that has nothing to do with us, as opposed to Andros calling for rescue. Listen."

"This is Commander Avery of the Haruyo army. We have been attacked repeatedly by an aggressive enemy that call themselves the Hanayo. We have been stretched to our limits and if there is any intelligent life out there who care enough about preserving life, we ask that you come and help us repel these enemies." The transmission ended.

"Here is another thing: the Haruyo is from a planet that we have called Akiyo, because from a distance it appears to be a white world. Not much is known about the planet as they have been deemed a no-go site, it being such a young place that it wants nothing to do with space. They have little technology,"

Zhane looked,

"Well, they called for help and their needs match the kind of situations we offer help to as rangers. Let's go to them and lend a hand."

Ashley looked at Zhane.

"Kin-Won, shouldn't we evaluate the other side of the war as well, find out which side has the most cause to be aided? Something about the commanders words sounded hollow."

"Ashley do you think you should go? This area of space has an emotional attachment to it that might not be healthy for you to enter into," Kin-Won asked, looking at her.

"I miss him but I will be fine, and you can't send Zhane there alone: that would be suicide." She argued. "Tykwa has already said that Kalyan can stay with her if I have to leave. Please let me go, I need a mission to help me recover."

Kin-Won sighed.

"You are stubborn, and you are right in that we do need you. That is why we are sending you with another warrior to the Hanayo people to get the other side of the story. Zhane will go and evaluate the Haruyo people. You will meet after one week and discuss what must be done, then contact us and we will decide the proper course of action. Remember to be careful where you tread - this is going to be a first contact," he warned as Ashley grinned. She grabbed her bag before running to take Kalyan to Tykwa's.

Zhane looked to Kin-Won.

"So Ashley gets back up and I have to go alone?"

"I want to make sure she will be alright out there. She says she is fine, but you and I both know she is still grieving," Kin-Won nodded.

"No, she isn't grieving, she refuses to think he's dead!" Zhane shook his head as he watched her disappear down the corridor.

"If you feel you want to have back up then you can take it, but I didn't think you would want it, knowing you," Kin-Won nodded crossing his arms.

"I don't need it, but the gesture would've been enough. If Andros was here, Ashley wouldn't have taken it either, but I am guessing she thinks taking back up is the only way she gets to go," Zhane shook his head and headed out to pack his bag.

"Ashley, if you need any help, please call immediately, okay? Don't be stubborn," Zhane said, walking around a console. They were trying to make arrangements for appearing in the capital cities on their assigned side of the war.

"Zhane, this is weird. The side I am supposed to evaluate doesn't seem to have much technology at all - no wonder they never called out for help," Ashley said looking at her screen.

"I have made contact with my side and they are waiting for me. If you can't make contact you will have to go down there and do everything the hard way," Zhane said, putting the last of his supplies into his bag.

"Zhane, call me if you sense even the slightest lie or think this might be an ambush, please?" Ashley begged.

"Don't worry, I know how dangerous this could be: we are going mostly blind here," Zhane agreed, leaving the room.

After a while of attempting to and find no chance of reaching the people in her side of the war, Ashley took her back up soldier and suited up, hiding a couple of weapons as back up, and teleported to the edge of the capital city.

"Sir, I have come from the KSA, as requested for in a radio transmission sent from this planet regarding help in a war." Ashley walked up and asked a man.

"We didn't call for any help. All we want is peace on this planet, we want this world to return to the gardens and scents, the beauty it once was famous for. You can go back to wherever the heck you came from," the man argued and walked away.

Another man came riding up on horseback,

"My name is Shuichi; I am one of the seven Lords. Who are you, strange warrior?" he demanded.

Ashley spun around, "My people received a radio transmission from this planet asking for assistance in a war. We have sent people to both sides to evaluate which one could be more truthful."

"You are a woman, but yet you fight?" he stepped his horse back.

"Yes, where I come from women can fight just as much as the men. But I have not come here to fight, I have come to learn about your culture. Please, who is your military leader?" Ashley gestured her arm around the town as she spoke.

"Please come this way, and tell me about where you are from," Shuichi said as he led her through the town to the council hall.

As she walked beside his horse, she told him of KO-35 and Earth, though she left certain details out.

After the meeting Shuichi came to her.

"Ashley please come stay in our house. It is the least I can do to offer you a room after what must have been a long journey."

"Thank you, sir, it would be much appreciated," Ashley nodded and followed him to his house where she was shown to a room and given some clothes to fit in with the household.