Chapter 26: Family Reunion
Selena was humming as she was pretending to pour tea in her dolls teacups. Andros came in. "Selena, it's time for dinner," he informed. She got up and ran over to Andros.
"Daddy, is Astronema still here?" She asked.
"Yeah she is," He replied.
"I want to see her!" She told him.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he answered.
"Why?" She asked.
Andros sighed. "Because your mommy wouldn't like it," he replied.
"I gots something for her," she told him.
Andros smiled slightly. "Alright, come on," he answered. She grabbed a box that sat on the bed and followed him to the engine room.
(Engine Room)
Astronema stared at the floor when Andros and Selena came in. "Hi!" Selena greeted. Astronema looked at her.
"I'm surprised her mother let her come in here," she commented.
"Mommy doesn't know," Selena answered.
Andros set a tray of food in front of her. "I brought you something to eat," he informed.
"I'm not hungry," she answered.
"It's a long trip," he informed.
She didn't answer. "Look, I'm sorry about you being tied up…" he started.
"I understand, your friends don't trust me. And do you, Andros? Do you trust me?" She asked.
"Yes, I do," he replied.
They were silent for a second. "Do you trust me?" He asked.
"Trust…that's a tough one…but I'm working on it," she replied.
Selena sat in front of her. "I gots you something," she informed, placing the box in front of her. Astronema stared at the box. "Hewe!" She exclaimed. She took off the box top and Astronema held up a stuffed cat. "It's like the kitty you gots me, but that one my mommy gave me for good luck. It gives me lots of good luck. I was at this pawty wit this really bad Diva lady and she had me tied up and my daddy came in and I didn't know he was my daddy…" she babbled.
"Selena! Andros, what is she doing here?" Ashley demanded.
She walked over and picked Selena up. "I told you I didn't want her around Astronema," he reminded.
"Mommy I gots something for hur," Selena answered.
Andros rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "What am I going to do with these cuffs on me, Ashley? I can't do anything to her like this," Astronema reminded.
"Ashley, you're overreacting…" he started.
"Not when it comes to my child," she answered.
"She's mine too!" He reminded.
Ashley left the room with Selena in her arms and Andros sat down with a sigh. Astronema looked at the stuffed animal in her hands. "I can understand why she is the way she is though. I haven't been like the greatest person in the universe. I'd be the last person she could trust Selena with," she murmured.
"You didn't hurt her when she was on the Dark Fortress," he answered.
"Only because I was hoping to train her to be my heir," she admitted.
Andros was silent. "She looks like you, Andros, she's beautiful," she added.
"She takes after her mother more than me," he answered.
Astronema smiled slightly. "I was expecting to find Ashley one day, but I wasn't expecting for her to have a child with her, our child," he added.
"How did that happen anyways? I do remember a little bit, but I do recall Ashley being on Darkonda's ship with me," she answered.
Andros laughed slightly. "That is a very long, confusing story," he stated. He sat back against the wall with a sigh. "But I won't say that Selena was a mistake, because that little girl brings joy to everyone on this ship," he commented.
"She looks like a fireball," she commented.
"You have no idea, stubborn too," he answered.
"Sounds…familiar," Astronema commented, looking at Andros.
She bit her lip. "What happened to our parents?" She asked. Andros closed his eyes.
"They died about two years ago," he replied.
Astronema stared at the floor. "They would be so glad to know that I finally found you," he commented. She smiled slightly and tugged on her chains slightly.
"I remember Selena now. She was that little girl that Divatox walked around with as if she were a trophy, shouting to everyone…" she started.
"I have the Yellow Ranger's child," he finished.
Andros rubbed his forehead. "I never thought Divatox would stoop as low as stealing a child," he muttered.
"I did," she pointed out.
"But that's different," he answered.
"How?" She asked.
Andros opened and closed his mouth several times and they remained quiet for awhile.
Ashley was in her and Andros's quarters, getting Selena to bed. "Mama, I'm not tiwed," she whimpered.
"Well you're going to bed and that's that," she informed.
Selena pouted. "Ashley?" Andros called.
"What?" She asked.
"Could you come with me please?" He asked.
"Why?" She asked.
"Just come with me," he answered.
Ashley kissed Selena's forehead before following Andros.
They arrived at the engine room and Ashley looked at him. "And why am I here?" She asked.
"Just talk to her please? She's just as lost as you were when you were kidnapped, so talk to her, please?" He insisted.
"I was turned into a slave…" she started.
"What do you think she is to Dark Specter?" He asked.
Ashley let out a sigh before going in. "Andros said you wanted to see me?" She asked. Astronema stared at her.
"You lost your freckles," she said suddenly.
"What?" Ashley asked.
"Your freckles, you used to have freckles when we were kids. You still like to have your hair in two ponytails once in awhile," she commented.
"Earth they're called pigtails," Ashley answered.
"What?" Astronema asked.
"Never mind," Ashley replied.
She leaned against the wall. "What do you remember from when you were kidnapped?" Astronema asked.
"Where would you like me to start?" Ashley asked.
She sat down on the floor. "When I was seven, I remember running through the fields picking flowers for my mom when Darkonda came out of nowhere and grabbed me. I remember sitting on the ship with you, but we were both blindfolded and our arms were tied so we couldn't move or see. I woke up in a cell where I got the mark as a slave," She started. She lifted her shirt to reveal the mark on her side. Astronema just listened. "Then I when I was 15 I was sent to a man's room, whom I didn't know was Andros, and did my duty as a slave and "entertained" him. A few months after that I found out I was pregnant. I was sent to Earth where I gave birth to Selena. Two years later here I am," she explained. She stared at Astronema. "I didn't get the service of a princess like you did," she added.
"Do you think I asked to become like this?" She asked.
Ashley was quiet. "I did not ask to become Astronema, I did not ask to be trained to believe that everyone I loved was killed by the Power Rangers when the Power Rangers are my brother and his Chosen," she informed.
"You remem…" she started.
"I remember that custom yes," Astronema answered.
Ashley sat down again. "I guess we both didn't lead the lives we wanted to," She commented. Astronema nodded her head slowly. Andros smiled slightly, they were talking and remembering, a good sign to him.