Chapter 16: The Greatest Sacrifice

Dorjan walked over to Karone's cell and opened the door. "You're coming with me," he informed. He walked over and grabbed Karone's arm. Karone struggled against him.

"Let me go," she hissed.

She struggled as hard as she could to stop Dorjan from trying to turn her into Astronema again. "ANDROS!" She shouted. Karone winced when she was thrown onto a familiar chair and her eyes widened in shock. He was going to use the machine that Darkonda used to turn her into Astronema the second time.

"Third time's the charm," he laughed.

However, when the tool was being brought down to her face, Karone saw Dorjan's eyes turn from red to brown. Dorjan collapsed to the floor holding his head. "NO!" Dorjan shouted. The shouting stopped and he sat up. Andros looked around and found his sister strapped to the chair.

"Karone!" He gasped.

He jumped up and undid the straps that held his sister there. "Your plan worked," she commented. She hugged him with a smile on her face. Andros hugged her back before pulling away just as fast.

"You have to get out of here," he put in.

She looked at him confused. "What do you mean?" She asked. Andros shook his head.

"I didn't tell you the next part of my plan," he replied.

They quickly ran to the bridge to contact Artemis and Selena before his time was up.

(Astro Megaship Mark II)

"Artemis, Selena, come in," Andros called. Selena jumped up with a gasp.

"Daddy?" She asked.

Andros appeared on the main viewing screen. "Lena, I need you to get to the hiding spot. Your aunt will be coming out," Andros informed.

"But what about you?" Selena asked.

Andros shook his head. "I'm not coming. Dorjan still has control over me," Andros replied. Selena felt her heart break.

"Dad, we won't let you do this," Artemis instructed.

"You know your orders you two. Save your aunt and protect your mother and siblings."

Tears fell down Selena's face with what her father was saying to them. "Selena, sweetheart. You take care of your little Layla you hear?" He asked. Selena nodded her head slowly.

"I will," she replied with her voice shaking.

Alpha came up to them. "Artemis, Selena, we're coming upon Dorjan's ship," Alpha informed. Selena wiped her tears away.

"Get ready for my signal," Andros instructed.

(Dorjan's Ship)

Karone shook her head. "No, Andros, no! I'm not letting you do this," she insisted. Andros gripped Karone's shoulders.

"Karone, listen to me. Dorjan is inside my head yet. And the only way to defeat him is that I sacrifice my life," Andros explained.

Karone hugged Andros tight with tears falling down her face. "Please don't let us, Andros, not now," she whispered. Andros looked up when he saw Pallaton coming up behind her. Andros pulled Karone behind him and pulled out Dorjan's blaster, shooting the evil man to the ground.

"That was for my daughter," he snapped.

Karone bit her lip as Andros hurried over to the panel and started pushing some keys. "Selena, Artemis, get ready for transport," he instructed. Andros walked back over to Karone when he felt Dorjan trying to fight for control. "Time's…running out…Karone," he choked out. Andros grabbed Karone's hand and placed his wedding ring inside. "Tell…Ashley…that…I love her…and I'll see her…in her…dreams…" he added. Karone kneeled in front of her brother when he fell to the floor and placed her hands on his face to see the brown going to red then back to brown.

"I will," she assured him.

She kissed Andros's forehead with tears falling down her face. "I love you, Andros," she whispered. Andros kissed her cheek.

"I love you too, Karone," he answered.

Andros pushed the button. "Artemis, Selena, teleport now," he ordered. He watched as Karone disappeared in a flash of purple light and he felt the pain coming back. "You…won't…win," he hissed. Andros pushed the communication button. "Artemis, Selena. I want you two to know that I love you, your brothers, sisters, and your mother more than anything in the world. I'm doing this for you guys," he explained. Andros slowly got up from the floor and tried his best to get to the console.

"You won't win," Dorjan snapped.

Andros pushed the self-destruct button. "I already have," Andros answered.

(Astro Megaship)

Selena fell back in her chair with tears falling down her face when she saw Dorjan's ship blow up with her father inside. "NO!" She shouted with tears falling down her face. Karone wrapped her arms around her niece and they both cried. Artemis walked over and tried to comfort his aunt and sister while they were trying to get back to KO-35. Alpha lowered his head slowly, shaking his head.

"Ai, yi yi," he mourned.

(KO-35)

Ashley was awake when Selena and Artemis came in with Karone. "Karone…you're okay," she whispered. Karone walked over and embraced Ashley gently. "How did you escape?" She asked.

"Andros rescued me," she replied.

Karone pulled back and sat beside the bed. "What is it?" Ashley asked. Karone bit her lip as she tried to push back the tears to tell Ashley that Andros was dead.

"Ashley, when Andros saved me. He had to make a sacrifice to keep Dorjan from hurting you and the kids," Karone informed.

"What kind of sacrifice?" Ashley asked afraid to know the answer.

Artemis took a deep breath. "Mom, dad's gone. He pushed the self-destruct button to Dorjan's ship," he informed. Ashley seemed to go into shock, not believe what they were saying.

"No," she whispered.

They nodded their head slowly. She pulled her knees up to her chest and her body shook furiously as she cried. "No, no, no, no, no, no," she sobbed. Karone sat beside Ashley on the bed and hugged her.

"He wanted me to give you this," Karone informed.

She pulled back and showed Ashley the ring that she had clutched in her hand. "He also wanted me to tell you that he loved you," she added. Ashley took the ring into her hand and the tears continued to fall. Selena and Artemis walked over and embraced their mother as they mourned the loss of their father. Now knowing that this time, Andros, the person they all loved more than anything was actually gone.

Author's Note: One more chapter and this time, no kidding. Andros is actually gone. There's no trick this time. I know you'll all be upset with me, but that's the way it worked out.