Chapter 9: The Working Plan
Once they got off the ship, Hendrix and machine monsters appeared. Then a hologram of Zafina appeared. "You better give Astronema the proper respect she deserves," she ordered.
"Of course, my queen," he assured.
Then the hologram disappeared. Hendrix walked over and went down on one knee in front of her. "I am at your service, Astronema, Princess of Evil," he stated. Karone took her staff and raised him from the ground.
"Take these prisoners once we get on the ship and put them with the Yellow Ranger," she ordered.
"Of course, my lady," he acknowledged.
Karone mentally nodded to her brother and fiancé before Zafina transported them onto the ship.
Karone bowed to Zafina once they entered the throne room. Zafina stood up from her chair and walked over to Karone. "Rise my friend," she insisted. Astronema stood up and grinned at her. Zafina smiled and embraced her friend. "All this time you were tricking the Power Rangers, I like it," she stated.
"It was a perfect plan," Astronema agreed.
"You are a greet actress, Astronema. You fooled me when I was fighting with you on Earth."
"It looks like I fooled you as easily as I fooled them."
Zafina then walked over to Andros. Astronema looked over at Andros and pulled him closer. "Your prize," she stated. Andros closed his eyes as Zafina ran her hands down his chest and stopped at the top of his pants.
"You are mine, now," Zafina whispered.
Andros shot her a dirty look. "I will never be yours. You may cast any spell on me to have me do anything you want me to, but my heart will always belong to Ashley," he argued.
"We'll see about that," Zafina stated.
Astronema placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's have him be with his beloved Ashley one last night," she insisted.
"Of course, Hendrix, take them to their cells. Let the Red Ranger say goodbye to his beloved Yellow Ranger. Oh and remove their morphers and communicators," Zafina ordered.
"As you command, my lady," he stated.
He then them away.
Ashley had her head lowered and didn't look up, she thought it was Zafina again. "Hello, Ashley," a familiar voice stated. Ashley looked up and saw Andros standing there.
"Andros!" She gasped.
Andros hurried over and saw the cuffs. "Hold still," he whispered. He held his hand up and flicked the cuffs open. Ashley sighed in relief and hugged him tight.
"How did you get in here?" She asked.
She pulled away and looked at him. "Karone is Astronema again," he stated. He then held his hand up so he could finish. "However, it's for a limited time. It's only a matter of time before they figure out that Karone is lying about being Astronema," he explained.
"What are we going to do?" She asked.
Andros lifted her arm up to find a huge gash. "Where did you get this?" He asked. Ashley didn't answer. Andros had her turn around and found the back of her shirt ripped. "Ashley, what happened?" He asked. Ashley looked at him with pain filled eyes.
(Flashback)
"You better tell me how to get Andros before I destroy you," Zafina snapped. Ashley stood there staring at her while hanging by chains.
"I won't tell you anything," Ashley spat.
"Fine, Hendrix."
Hendrix turned Ashley around and Zafina raised a whip. "Now you'll regret everything," she snapped. Ashley winced when she felt the whip hit her back, but she refused to scream. She refused to go down to her level.
(End Flashback)
"Ashley," he whispered. He pulled her into a hug and sighed. "I'll make sure she'll never do this to you again," he assured.
The next day, Andros and Ashley were dragged into the throne room with Zhane right beside them. They saw that Zafina was the only one there. Karone was going to get their morphers back and appear in front of them in her real uniform.
Karone entered the room where the morphers were placed. She looked into her hand to find Ashley's morpher, since it was on the Megaship. She had Alpha transport it to her bedroom the night before. She carefully walked over to the table where the morphers were placed. She walked over to a panel and typed in the code. Karone picked up Zhane and Andros's morphers and nodded. "I knew it was too good to be true," Hendrix snapped. Karone spun around only to have Hendrix rip her wig off her head.
"I hate it when that happens," she groaned.
"Hand over the morphers," he ordered.
Karone grinned evilly before getting into fighting stance. "GO GALACTIC!" She yelled. She morphed and fought Hendrix while keeping the morphers in her hands.
Ashley watched as Zafina walked over to Andros. "You're mine," she hissed. Suddenly, the doors burst open and Karone came jumping in front of her fiancé and family.
"No! To think I fell or that trick. My sister was smarter than this," she hissed.
"What?" Andros asked.
"That's right, my older sister was Trakeena."
Ashley groaned as Andros picked her up. "We'll be leaving now," Andros stated. Karone waved before Alpha transported them to the ship.
Andros walked into the Medical bay and placed his wife onto the examination table. He ran a scanner over her back and sighed in relief. "There isn't any permanent damage done to your back and your arm. You should heal nicely," he informed. Ashley winced as he wrapped her arm and back up. "Now, all you need is rest," he murmured. He placed a kiss on her cheek before leaving.
(Next Time on The Power of Love)
Hendrix stared at his queen. "My lady, you could have stopped them from leaving," he stated.
"Yes, but now we know their weaknesses," she stated.
"What about the Yellow Ranger?" He asked.
"She's vulnerable right now. She has been injured."
"What do you plan to do, my queen?"
"This."
She looked over to the side and walked over to her crystal ball. She walked over and waved her hand over it. "Show me my true ally," she ordered. A back was shown. "Hello, my dear friend. It has been a long time," she greeted. The person turned around to reveal Vypra.
"Zafina, hello, my friend. How may I help you?" She asked.
"Help me bring Astronema back to our side," Zafina replied.
"It will be my pleasure. Queen Bansheera will be pleased to have more allies on our side."
"Mama," a voice whimpered.
Vypra then stared back at the woman. "What do you have in mind?" She asked.
"Call on a monster and cast a spell over the Pink and Red Rangers. They'll destroy their loved ones and Andros will be mine," Zafina replied.
"What about us?" Vypra demanded.
"You'll have Mariner Bay destroyed along with the Lightspeed Rangers."