Chapter 5: Hard to Convince

Andros was walking down the hall towards the conference room. He straightened his jacket and took a deep breath as he walked inside. The councilmen stood up when Andros came into. "Be seated," Andros instructed. They sat down and Andros stood at the head of the table.

"What is this urgency, my lord?" The lead councilman asked.

"Gentlemen, I think there should be a change," Andros replied.

The men looked at each other before looking back at Andros. "And what would that be?" One of them asked. Andros stood up straight with his hands behind his back.

"I believe it's time to change the marriage age on KO-35," he replied.

The men looked at each other once again and looked back at their emperor. "I'm sorry, my lord, it can't be done," the leader replied.

"What?" Andros asked.

"It cannot be done. The marriage age of fifteen is a reasonable age and it's been in our tradition for centuries," he replied.

Andros looked at them in shock. "We understand that you are still suffering from your wife's abandonment, but other marriages have lasted," the leader added. Andros shook his head.

"I can't believe you are saying this to me. I am the Emperor of KO-35," Andros reminded.

"We are aware of that."

"My wife is gone because of this."

Andros glared at them. "We are ruining children's lives," Andros insisted.

"Fifteen is what it's been for centuries Emperor Andros, and fifteen it shall stay," the leader answered.

Andros left the conference room frustrated, upset, and miserable.

He entered his house and found the nanny playing with Alastair. "My lord, how did the meeting go?" She asked. Andros removed his jacket.

"It didn't go well, Alisa," Andros replied.

Alisa stood up with Alastair in her arms. Andros smiled as he walked over and took his son into his arms. "What did the council say?" A familiar voice asked. Andros looked over to see Karone standing there.

"Karone, what are you doing here?" He asked.

Karone smiled as she walked over and hugged her brother gently. "I heard that you went to try to change the marriage age," she replied. Andros sighed and let her go.

"Unfortunately, they won't even listen to me," Andros informed.

Karone looked at him confused. "The marriage age is still at fifteen. My son is still betrothed to a girl who's parents I have never met," he added. He set Alastair into his playpen. "That'll be enough for today, Alisa," Andros informed. Alisa nodded and left the room. Andros sat down in his chair and started playing with his ring.

"Andros, there's more," she commented.

Andros looked up at her. "What do you mean?" He asked. Karone sat down in front of him.

"I know there's something else bothering you," she replied.

He shook his head slightly before looking back at his sister. "The council wants me to remarry," he informed.

"What?" She asked in disbelief.

"They want me to remarry, saying that it's the best thing for Alastair."

"But Ashley's not dead and you two aren't even divorced."

"Try telling them that."

Andros stood up and pushed his hair back. "What else can go wrong?" He asked. Karone sighed as stood up with her hands clasped in front of her.

"It can't get any worse," she replied.

"Don't say that," he mumbled.

Andros walked over to Alastair's playpen to see his son playing calmly with his toys. "I never wanted this for my son," he murmured. Karone placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know," she answered.

He shook his head slightly as he touched the top of his son's head. "I'm eighteen years old and already a father," he murmured.

"I heard that it happens on Earth," Karone commented.

"It's not the same, Karone. To the council, Ashley and I just followed tradition. We had our first child at seventeen. We're supposed to hand him off to some stranger when he's fifteen? No, I don't want that for him."

Karone crossed her arms across her chest and looked at him. "What do you want for him?" She asked. Andros sat down in his chair again.

"I…I want my son to be able to live his life, to become what he wants to be, to grow up with his family, and not have to leave them so soon," he replied.

She nodded her head slowly and sat down across from him once again. "But the council won't listen to me. I can't change the age without their permission," he informed. Karone reached over and held his hand.

"You know what you have to do," she murmured.

"I know what I have to do, Karone, I just don't know how to do it."

Karone kneeled in front of him and placed her hands on his face. "You do what you do best, Andros. You fight, but instead of fighting to keep the universe free, you fight to keep your son from being as miserable as you feel right now," she explained. Andros nodded his head and Karone hugged him. He hugged her back and closed his eyes.

"You've done the right thing," he murmured.

"What's that?" She asked.

"You got away from this place."

Karone sat back with a gentle smile. "Well, brother, like you, I have also fallen in love," she commented. Andros looked at her confused. Karone sat back in her chair.

"Leo?" He asked.

"Leo."

Andros smiled. "He's a great guy, I'm happy for you," he commented. Karone nodded her head with a gentle smile.

"Thanks," she answered.

He nodded his head slowly before looking back over at Alastair, wondering what Ashley was doing at that very moment and hoped she would come home to him and their son soon.