Disclaimer: If it's not mine, then it's Saban's or Disney's or whoever's.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Yeah, you got through to Jenny. Here's more.

Mz. Daydream: I've been having writer's block. :P Either that, or I've been stalling since the story's almost over. They'll all be in the final battle, but I haven't decided for sure who'll be on what side.

Jenny: Ximena and Skylar are both equally strong, Ximena's just slightly more impulsvie and Skylar usually thinks things through a little more. I kinda like the impulsiveness better than the thoughtfulness, though. :P

Juzblue: Not good, exactly, just not evil. :P

the-power-of-love: Thanks, here's more, I'll watch for your next story.

Chapter 26

Pain hit him the instant he opened his eyes, and Andros stifled a groan as he sat up slowly, trying not to strain his already sore muscles. His body ached from more beatings than he could count, the result of flying into a rage whenever he was baited. At first, he'd been too numb to care, but as some of the pain of being separated from his family had started to ebb away, it occured to him that if he didn't start keeping his mouth shut, he very likely wouldn't see them again.

He sighed heavily, trying to reach Ashley with his mind, something that had become increasingly difficult to do. Wherever she was, he could sense that Ashley was in pain, both physical and emotional, and knew that she had begun to retreat into the safe haven of her mind to protect herself. He also didn't doubt that she was blocking him from feeling the worst of it.

"Time to get up."

Andros glanced sadly at Lyra and Kenelm, the two other household slaves. They had been born into this life and had never tasted freedom. He pitied them for this, and also he envied them. Not knowing anything life but this one, it cost them nothing to obey every order tossed at them.

"What do we do today?" he muttered, pulling on his shoes. There was a task assigned to everyday, in addition to performing a series of daily rutines.

"It's cleaning day again," Kenelm said impatiently, handing him a rag. "Every other day, remember?"

"Oh," Andros said dully. He truly couldn't recall ever being told such a thing.

"Come on," Lyra said. "We've got to get started before he wakes up."

Kenelm suddenly gave a startled shout, and Andros whirled around in time to see two cloaked figures advance towards him as Kenelm and Lyra ran from the room.

"Come with us," one of them pleaded, and he tensed, recognizing the voice.

"Skylar and Ximena," he said quietly, wondering how he could emerge from this alive. "What do you want?"

"We need you to come with us," the other said. "Please."

"Why?" he snarled. "So your masters can entertain themselves by seeing me as a slave?"

"We want to help you," Skylar insisted. "We know where our- your- we know where Ashley is."

Andros closed his eyes, trying to keep himself from agreeing so readily. "Where?"

"You come with us or you don't know," Ximena said firmly. "You'll get yourself killed if you go alone."

"And since when have you cared if I lived or died?" he challenged them. "You don't know where Ashley is. You just want me to go with you."

"You sound just like your son," Ximena snapped, wincing as she realized what she'd just said.

"Where's Aidan?" Andros demanded, his eyes hard and dangerous. "What did you do to my children?"

"Not Aidan, exactly," Skylar mumbled sheepishly. "Umm... The Overlords took over the world fourteen years ago."

"But-"

"You and Ashley were sold into slavery," Skylar continued. "You're family and friends were either sold or killed."

"You-"

"Aidan and Seren were rescued," Skylar pressed on, ignoring Andros's attempts at speech. "The other ranger children were rescued, except one."

He didn't want to believe this. He couldn't believe this... but he was. "What happened?"

Ximena shrugged. "We don't know."

"It was you," he realized suddenly. "You were the ones who saved Ashley the night Seren was born... Why?"

"You won't like it," Skylar warned him.

There was a sudden flash of motion behind them, and Andros groaned, seeing Haul standing in the doorway to the small room, arms crossed, eyes blazing. "What do you think you're doing?"

"We're here to take what's ours," Ximena said cooly, her hand edging to the blade at her hip. "Get out of my way."

"He's mine," Haul informed her, his voice just as cold. "I paid for him."

"Does it look like we care?" Skylar snapped.

"Then I'll teach you to care," Haul growled, taking a step towards them.

"I very much doubt that."

Like lightning, two blades were drawn and leveled against Haul's neck. He slowly backed away, glaring bitterly at them all.

"You can have him," he said. "He's not worth much, anyway."

"Let's go," Skylar said anxiously as Haul vanished.

"No."

Ximena groaned. "Do you want to stay here? You can if you want to."

"Of course I don't want to stay here," Andros snapped, trying to regain some sense of dignity. "But I won't be your slave. If that's what you're here for, then kill me."

"You don't want to die," Ximena said, rolling her eyes. "You'd be dead already if you did. You promised Ashley that you would stay alive."

"But this isn't living," he said. He hadn't felt alive since the last moments he'd held Ashley in his arms. The instant she was torn away from him, he'd felt his heart slowly begin to encase itself in its protective shell of ice.

"Let's bring you back to life, then," Skylar said, grabbing his arm before he had a chance to protest. "Don't worry, we'll explain everything."