Chapter 4: Never Give Up

Three more months went by and they still couldn't find Andros. He was gone without a trace. The only thing they found was what they saw in the computers of who captured him. Almost everyone but Zhane, Karone, and Ashley believed that Andros was dead.

Ashley sat down on her and Andros's bed with Andros's pillow in her arms. She looked up when the door opened and saw Carlos standing there. Ashley lied down on her side with her back towards him. "I'm not gonna hear it, Carlos," she told him.

"Ashley, can you just hear me out?" He asked.

Ashley refused to listen. She knew what he was going to say. They were going to try and deny that Andros was still alive. Carlos sighed as he stroked her hair. "Well, you're going to have to. Ashley, Andros was one of my good friends. It's hard for me to even admit that Andros is gone. Believe me Ash, if this Balavan is as dangerous as Karone says he is, then it's impossible for Andros to even survive in his grip for this long," Carlos explained. Ashley shook her head.

"I'm not going to believe it, Carlos. When you love someone so much, you get these feelings that when other people thing they're dead, you just know they're alive," Ashley explained.

Ashley got up from the bed and she walkedo ver to her closet. She pulled out her Space uniform and went to get changed. Carlos sighed as he looked at her when she came out of the bathroom. "Say whatever you like, Carlos. I'm going to find Andros," she informed. She pulled her hair back in a braid and then she lifted her communicator up to her mouth. "Zhane, Karone, get the ship ready. We leave to find Andros in an hour," she informed.

"On our way, Ash," Karone answered.

Ashley looked at Carlos. "I'm sorry, Carlos but I know he's alive," she insisted.

"How do you know that, Ashley? You can't get through to him with telepathy," Carlos pointed out.

Ashley stalled thinking of that sinking in. Carlos was right about that. "I just have a feeling that he's alive," Ashley informed. She grabbed her backpack and then she picked her and Andros's prom picture up again. "He's my soul mate, Carlos," she added. Carlos sighed as he watched her go. There was no way he could stop her from trying to find Andros. Ashley packed some of her personal items and left.

When she arrived on the ship, Zhane and Karone were ready to go. "DECA, get ready for takeoff," Ashley instructed. Ashley then went to Andros's controls and took off.

As Ashley was scanning for Andros, she just wished she could find him so everything would be okay again.

(On the Planet)

Andros woke up with a bad kink in his neck. Andros slowly lifted his head when the door opened and saw Balavan enter the room again. "Did you sleep well?" He taunted. Andros groaned slightly as Balavan's henchmen undid the chains again and let Andros fall to the floor. Balavan knelt down to Andros's level. "You know, you'd sleep better if you would just tell me the plans," he told him.

"I won't tell," Andros snapped.

"That's fine, you don't have to tell us verbally anymore. We have other means to do it. Bring him."

Andros winced as the henchmen grabbed his arms and dragged him out of his cell.

Balavan nodded and Andros was placed on the table. Andros could barely open his eyes from being in darkness for so long. He felt wires being placed into the headband on his head. The shackles clamped down around his wrists and ankles. "If you won't tell us willingly, we'll take the information," he informed. Andros bit his lip as the pain rushed through his head. "More," Balavan instructed. Andros felt pain rushing through his head and tried not to give Balavan the satisfaction of him crying out in pain. However, he did. Andros threw his head back and cried out in pain.

"ASHLEY!" He shouted.

(On the Megaship)

Ashley gasped and held her head in pain. She fell to her knees. "ASHLEY!" She heard Andros call. Ashley felt every jolt of pain.

"Andros," she whispered.

Karone ran over and placed her hands on Ashley's shoulders. "He's alive...Karone...I can feel it," she whispered.

(On the Planet)

Balavan cackled evilly at Andros's pain. "Has anything come up yet?" He asked. The technician looked at the screen to see if any information came up.

"Nothing, milord, he's resisting the mind probing," the technician replied.

Balavan walked over and grabbed Andros's throat. "Stop resisting, remember I know where to find that girl of yours," he snapped.

"I...won't...tell," Andros snapped back.

Andros felt pain rush through his head and body, but he refused to give in. "Then you will suffer. Take him back to his cell," Balavan snapped. Andros was unshackled from the table and was dragged back to his cell.

(On the Megaship)

Ashley felt the pain subside. "Ashley, what happened?" Zhane asked.

"They were torturing him," Ashley replied quietly.

Karone and Zhane shared a glance before looking at Ashley. Ashley held her head and let out a small sob. "He's in terrible danger, we have to find him," she insisted.