Chapter 23: Calm before the Storm

After saving the people from the Secret City and putting the newly restored Psycho Rangers into data cards, they felt that things were about to get much worse.

Ashley bit her lip when she found Andros on the bridge. "Andros," she called. Andros looked over at her before going back to work. Ashley let out a sigh and walked over to him. "You're still angry with me," she commented. Andros let out a sigh and shook his head.

"I'm not angry with you, Ashley," he answered.

"Then why have you been avoiding me for the past two weeks?" She asked.

"I haven't been avoiding you."

Ashley crossed her arms over her chest. "Let me see, as soon as you see me come into the room you quickly walk out and you went back to your old quarters. If that's not avoiding me then I don't what is," she commented. Andros turned in his chair to look at her. "Andros, I told you that Alpha and I have created a device that would protect the baby. I promise you that I won't be like before. I won't let it happen," she explained. Andros looked at her.

"Great, you have a way to protect the baby in your Ranger form, but what about in your civilian form? What are you going to do if we're in a battle and we're unable to morph?" He asked.

Ashley bit her lip and let out a sigh. "Ashley, I'm only being the way I am because I'm scared out of my mind of what might happen to this one, because not only would it tear me apart if something happens to this baby, but I know it will kill you," he explained. Ashley lowered her head slightly and Andros held onto her hands. "I'm just worried okay?" He asked. Andros pulled her to him and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Ashley hugged him back and buried her head in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry too," she answered.

Andros kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes. "I'm scared too, Andros. I'm so scared," she whispered. Andros closed his eyes and held her close to him.

"I'm here, Ashley, I'm here," he answered.

(Later on a Desert Planet)

Ashley was trying to fight of the quantrons when she realized that her and Andros's worse fear was coming true. She tried her best to protect her stomach. Andros looked up from the ground when the quantrons threw him down and saw Ashley struggling. "ASHLEY!" He shouted. He jumped up off the ground and ran to help her. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

Andros and Ashley were ripped away from each other before they could react and were captured. Darkonda laughed as he stood in front of them with more quantrons behind him. "I've been waiting for a long time to do this. Destroy them," Darkonda ordered. Ashley struggled as hard as she could and looked at Andros. Just when she and Andros felt like there was no hope, Zhane came to help them. Once the quantrons and Darkonda were defeated, they ran over to Zhane.

"Thanks, Zhane," Ashley told him.

"Yeah, you saved us again," Andros agreed.

Zhane nodded and then they had Zhane go to protect their Delta Megazord. Andros held his battlizer morpher up. "Battlized Red Ranger," he called. He morphed into his Battlizer and looked at the others. "I'll call you when I get through the web," he informed.

"Be careful," Ashley told him.

"I will," Andros answered.

Ashley bit her lip and watched as he went up to free their ship from the web. She placed a hand on her stomach thankful that Zhane came just in time, but she was still scared out of her mind of what might happen to Andros while he was freeing the ship.

(After the Fight)

Ashley woke up later that night finding Andros gone. By she climbed out of bed, pulled on her boots and jacket. She left the room to find her husband.

When she found Andros, she saw him hard at work. It looked like he hadn't even slept yet. She walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders. "You should be asleep," she whispered. Andros shook his head.

"I can't, not while we both know that Astronema will attack at any time now that the Delta Megazord is gone," he answered.

Ashley sat next to him and lifted his hands off the controls. "Andros, this isn't healthy," she told him.

"Ashley, I can't sleep knowing that we're in trouble," he insisted.

Ashley sighed. "Andros, we'll be okay. We were able to fight Astronema without the Delta Megazord and we can do it again," she assured him. She stroked his tired face. "Please, I need you now more than ever," she whispered. Andros stroked her face and nodded his head slowly. However, his concern left to what Astronema might be planning and went back to the baby.

"How's the baby?" He asked.

Ashley smiled and placed his hand on her stomach. "There's still going to be a baby," she assured him. Andros smiled back and pulled her into a kiss. Ashley kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck. She giggled into the kiss when he pulled her into his lap. She pulled back. "This is how we go in trouble, besides someone could walk in on us," she answered. Andros stroked her face with a smile.

"Yeah, and who would want to come here in the middle of the night?" He asked.

Ashley laughed as she got up and grabbed Andros's hand. "We're not going to make love on the bridge," she laughed. Andros chuckled as he let Ashley pull him out of his chair and led him back to their room.

When they got back to the room, Ashley went in first before grabbing Andros by the collar of his jacket and pulling him in after her. "DECA, lock the doors and shut down in here," Andros instructed.

"Acknowledged," DECA answered.

Ashley smiled as she placed her hand on the back of Andros's neck and pulled him down in for a kiss. Andros kissed her back and pushed her back on the bed and made love until they had no strength left.