Chapter 2: Telling Karone
Karone was watching Kamilah and Zavier play with their cousins, Andrea and Andrew. Andros and Ashley were sitting next to her with smiles on their faces. Not knowing that, that day was going to change Karone's life forever. They heard someone coming up behind them and turned to see Billy standing there with Tommy. Ashley recognized Tommy, but she didn't know who Billy was. "Tommy, what's going on?" Ashley asked. Tommy didn't answer he just looked over at Billy.
"You might want to follow me and bring your children with you," Billy replied.
"Kamilah, Zavier, come on," Karone called.
"Andrew, Andrea," Ashley called.
Their children came running and they followed Billy and Tommy.
They got onto Billy's ship. "I just came from Aquitar," Billy informed. Karone could tell the tone of Billy's voice that it's not good news.
"Zhane, what's wrong with Zhane?" She asked.
"This is what we received from Zhane when he was on his way to Aquitar," Billy informed.
He was about to put the chip into the computer when he looked at Karone. "You might want to sit down," he informed. Karone sat down and the chip was inserted into the computer. Zhane the appeared on the screen.
"Karone, I know I said I'd be home. By the time you receive this message, I'll be long gone by then. Monsters from another galaxy have attacked the Megaship. The won't tell me who they are. But any minute now they're going to be breaking down that door to take over the ship. I'm sorry for breaking my promise to you, Karone. Tell Kamilah and Zavier that I love them both so much. I'll always be with you. All three of you as long as you remember me. I love you. Zhane out," he explained.
Karone watched in horror as her husband was captured and he called for the self-destruct system to start. Tears fell down her face when the screen went fuzzy. "Billy, please tell me that my husband made it out," she insisted. Billy looked at the young woman and shook his head.
"No, Zhane sacrificed his life," he replied.
Karone all of a sudden couldn't breathe. "Andros!" She gasped. Billy hurried over and had Karone put her head between her knees. Once she was able to breathe again, she started crying. Andros pulled his sister into his arms and sighed sadly.
"I'm sorry, Karone, I'm so sorry," he whispered.
Ashley sat next to them and embraced Karone as well. Karone cried against her brother and sister-in-law not believing that her husband was dead. Ashley stroked Karone's hair and then once Karone cried herself to sleep, Andros picked his sister up.
When they got back to Karone's house, Ashley sent Kamilah and Zavier to bed while Andros put Karone to bed.
Ashley looked at Andros. They were going to stay at Karone's house for awhile. She needed someone she could talk to when she woke up.
The morning, Karone woke up to find Kamilah and Zavier gone. "I had Andros drop them off at school," Ashley informed. Karone sat down and Ashley placed a cup of coffee in front of her. "How are you doing?" She asked. Karone looked into her cup before looking at her.
"How am I supposed to feel, Ashley? My husband is dead. He died saving Aquitar," she replied.
Ashley placed a hand on her shoulder. "Zhane loved all three of you with all his heart and soul. He not only sacrificed his life for the people on Aquitar, but he also sacrificed his life for you," she insisted. Karone put her cup down and started crying. Ashley sat next to Karone and let her cry against her shoulder. She stroked Karone's hair and closed her eyes.
"How am I going to tell my children? Surely Kamilah won't understand. She's so young," Karone babbled.
Ashley let Karone go and placed her hands on her face. "Karone, look at me. Calm down and take a few deep breaths," she insisted. Karone tried but sobs escaped her mouth instead. "Karone, calm down. You're going to hurt yourself," Ashley urged. Karone took a deep breath and tears fell down her face. "We'll make sure your kids will be okay," she assured.
"I just can't believe he's gone," Karone whispered.
"I know, I know."
"It's not fair. I have don't so much to get my life back together. I got married and had two beautiful kids with the man I fell deeply in love with the man that I met when I was Astronema. we spent a little time apart so I could help Leo and the rest of the Galaxy Rangers. I come back marry Zhane and had the children that I love more than anything. Now I lost the man that I loved."
Ashley tried to comfort the young woman, but she didn't want to make her upset because she still had her husband.
After pre-school, Karone took Kamilah home and then she waited for Andros to bring Zavier home. Zavier was about to go upstairs when Andros grabbed his hand. "Zavier, your mom wants to talk to you in the living room," he insisted. Zavier went into the living room.
Karone was standing in the kitchen when Ashley placed a hand on her shoulder. "You can do it and you have to do it," she assured her. Karone nodded and left the kitchen.
"Kamilah and Zavier, I have some bad news," she informed.
"Is it daddy?" Kamilah asked.
"Yes, sweet heart, it's daddy," Karone replied.
"What's wrong with dad?" Zavier asked.
"Well, honey, some very bad people attacked your daddy's ship and captured your daddy. Your daddy had to set off a bomb from inside the ship. The ship blew up with your daddy inside," she explained.
"Daddy's coming home isn't he?" Kamilah asked.
"No, sweet heart, your daddy won't be coming back," Karone replied.
Zavier didn't say anything. For a six-year-old, he was pretty smart. Karone looked at her son. "Zavier," she whispered. She went to touch his shoulder when he pushed her away.
"Go away," he mumbled.
He took off upstairs. Karone went to go after him when Andros grabbed her arm. "No, I'll go take care of him," he assured her. Karone watched as Andros went up after her son and she sat next to her daughter.
