Chapter 16: Saving Hayden

Andros was walking down the hall when he heard crying coming from Ashley's room. He looked inside and found Ashley sitting on the floor of her bedroom tears falling down her face, in her arms she was holding a stuffed puppy. "Ashley?" He called quietly. Ashley looked up at him and wiped her tears away.

"I'm fine, Andros," she insisted.

Andros came in and sat across from her. "What if he's doing something to him, Andros?" She asked. Andros sat next to her and sighed.

"Ashley, I'm sure he's okay," he replied.

"It's been two weeks. You promised me you'd get him back."

Andros remained quietly and Ashley looked at the stuffed dog. "Ashley, I've been trying as hard I can to get inside," he told her. She shook her head slowly.

"I want him back," she answered.

He nodded his head slowly and kissed her forehead. He stood up and left the room.

Andros walked down the hall and got ready to morph when he heard someone coming up behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Carlos standing there. "What are up doing?" He asked.

"I don't think it's any of your business," Andros replied.

Andros was about to morph again when he looked at Carlos. "Don't tell Ashley where I am, since I know you're good at keeping secrets. I'm going to get my son back," Andros informed. Carlos watched as Andros morphed and ran down the hall.

(Hashim's Lair)

Andros snuck inside and held his blaster up ready for anything. He slowly walked down the hall and hid behind a wall when he heard someone coming. He looked behind the wall and saw Hashim standing there. "Any word from the Yellow Ranger?" He asked.

"Nothing yet, milord," a servant replied.

"Get ready to destroy the boy."

Andros felt his heart pounding against his chest at what Hashim had said. "Destroy my son?" His mind sneered. Andros glared at Hashim. He had to get Hayden out of there before it was too late.

As he made his way down the hall, he came to a line of cells. He just continued to pray while he searched for the cell that held his son. Andros looked inside one cell and found Hayden curled up in a ball in the corner. "Hayden," he called quietly. Hayden lifted his head and stood up.

"Who are you?" Hayden asked.

"I'm a friend of your mother's. I came to get you out," Andros replied.

The young boy was beaming and Andros got ready to blast the door open. "Step back," he instructed. Andros then blasted the lock open and looked up when the alarms went off. "Come on, Hayden," Andros called. He picked the boy up and started running down the hall.

Andros was towards the exit when a blast stopped him. "Think you could escape that easily, Prince Andros?" Hashim sneered. Andros turned and set Hayden on the floor.

"Go hide of there," Andros instructed.

Hayden hid behind a wall and Andros glared at Hashim. "SPIRAL SABER BOOSTER MODE!" Andros shouted. Andros held it up. "FIRE!" He shouted. Hashim sighed and just threw the blast back at the Red Ranger. Andros quickly rolled out of the way only to have the blast hit his shoulder.

"How many times do you have to try that one before you realize that it doesn't work on me?" Hashim asked.

Andros stood up. "You leave that boy and his mother alone. What do you want with her?" Andros demanded. Hashim chuckled.

"Haven't you figured it out?" He asked.

Andros closed his eyes, he had figured it out. "I want her. If she can carry one piece of filth, I think she can carry a stronger breed of heir," he answered.

"You will not touch her," Andros snapped.

"Are you going to stop me?"

"Yes."

Hashim threw another blast at Andros, making him fly back and hit the far wall. "NO! RED RANGER!" Hayden shouted. Andros was started to lose consciousness and looked down at the injury on his chest.

"Say goodbye, Red Ranger," Hashim snapped.

"LUNAR LANCE!" Carlos shouted when he ran in.

He hit Hashim with his Lunar Lance and looked over at Andros. "Carlos? What are you doing here?" Andros asked.

"You actually expected me to stay behind and let you get yourself killed?" He asked.

Hashim glared at Carlos as he ran over and helped Andros off the ground. Carlos looked over at Hayden. "Hayden, come with me," Carlos told him. Hayden just stared at him. "Hayden, it's me, Carlos, I'm going to take you back to your mom," he added. Carlos had his lunar lance disappear and he picked Hayden up. "Computer, three to transport," Carlos instructed. Before Hashim could throw another blast at them, all three disappeared.

(The Base)

Carlos and Andros de-morphed and the Black Ranger set Hayden down. "Your mom's right down in that room," he informed. Hayden smiled and ran down the hall while Carlos got Andros to the infirmary.

Ashley was working on some things in the control room trying to keep her mind off things. "MOMMY! MOMMY!" Hayden shouted. Ashley spun around and gasped when she saw Hayden.

"Hayden!" She gasped.

She picked her son up and hugged him tight with tears falling down her face. Hayden pulled back and touched his mother's face. "Mommy, why are you crying?" He asked.

"Mommy's crying because she's so happy to see that you're okay," she replied.

Ashley kissed his cheek and hugged him tight. "The Red Ranger saved me, mommy," he told her. Ashley felt her heart stop.

"Andros," she whispered.

(That Evening)

Ashley walked into the infirmary to find Andros trying to get his shirt back on. "Thank you," she told him. He looked up at her.

"What?" He asked.

"Thank you for saving Hayden," she replied.

Andros shook his head. "He's my son too," he pointed out. Ashley nodded and he pulled on his jacket. "You should thank Carlos," he added.

"I already did," she answered.

Andros nodded and stood up. "Well, goodnight, Ashley," he told her. Ashley walked over and kissed his cheek.

"Goodnight, Andros," she answered.

She turned and left the infirmary, leaving Andros standing there his heart still aching for her.