Disclaimer: Saban owns the Power Rangers. And if he cared at all for his audience, then PHANTOM and Cassie fans might not have to look elsewhere to finally see them together. “Far And Away” is by Suzy Bogguss, from her album, Give Me Some Wheels.

Author’s Note: Timeline: pre-”The Delta Discovery”. Thanks to Starhawk for proofing, and for reminding me of what I remembered. *grin*

The day had started like any other on the MegaShip. She had woke up, gotten ready, and would go about her duties. She would sit at her console on the Bridge, running scan after scan, for someday, something would turn up. And as with every day, she told herself, ‘today will be the day.’

Finding Zordon was their full-time occupation now that school was out for the summer. Scan this galaxy, find nothing, move on to the next, occasionally fight a monster, Ecliptor, Darkonda, or Astronema. That’s the way their lives went now, for most of the team anyway.

Some members were occupied with quests of their own. Andros had been searching for his sister since childhood. He didn’t let anything stand in his way of looking either. And if he could fight the villains and gather information about his sister’s whereabouts at the same time, so much the better. Cassie, meanwhile, was on a search of her own. ‘Today will be the day,’ she thought.

Ever since the former Turbo team had ventured into space, she had been hoping for one thing. Saving Zordon was their mission, but seeing the Phantom Ranger again was the answer to her dreams. His duty had taken him away from Earth. Perhaps their ‘duties’ were similar now and they would happen past each other. She could see him again, tell him how she felt, that he occupied her every waking thought. And find out if it was the same for him.

Did he think about her as often and as much as she thought about him? Did she haunt his mind, his dreams? She knew what she was going through over him. And at times she thought she could almost feel him. She thought she could feel his yearning to return to her, despite his duty, his prior commitments.

What they had couldn’t even be called a relationship, but there was something there, something she couldn’t explain. She knew that she was complete when he was beside her, and she had been only half a soul since he had left. Each time he had left, she had felt the pain again, and somehow she sensed he felt it too.

She had never felt anything like this before, or since. She had never been in love, but she knew this was it, even more than that if that was possible. Nothing compared to the feelings she felt just when she thought of him. And she didn’t even know his name.

There was a connection between them, a bond of soulmates that couldn’t be destroyed. Regardless of the distance, universes and galaxies away, they were connected and she knew that it was just a matter of time until she saw him again. Then, when for some reason of chance or design, they would end up on the same mission, on the same planet. Luck would be with them. It had to be.

They were destined to be together, she didn’t doubt that. But as the long days without him stretched on, she found herself more and more looking to the past. She would find herself sifting through her memories of their brief times together. But she had to live in the present and look to the future. And as the days and weeks passed, she watched as the time that separated them grew to be as wide as the distance.

Another day of searching for Zordon, another day Andros looked for Karone, and another day that Cassie hoped to see Phantom. Time seemed to crawl, as none of their searches were fruitful. Discouraged would be a term best applied to the Astro Team. Though they never let it show, not to others, and not even amongst themselves. Time and loneliness taught them many things. They were all experts at hiding their pain.

But she could wait. Of course she would. Hide the pain another day, because that day may be the day they would be reunited. Hope would never die. It was only a matter of time. And she did not care how long it took, only that she saw him again. ‘Today will be the day.’

She was working on her Galaxy Glider, only half of her mind on the task at hand. It didn’t require much thought or concentration. Which was good, because she was totally distracted. Somewhere, far away she thought she could hear him calling, calling to her. Whether it was just her imagination or not, she felt him. She heard his cries for her and felt his pain. Something was wrong, somewhere out there in the dark reaches of space. Not that she had any idea where he was though. She had a vague idea of a place, a jungle, but the actual location was lost to her.

“Emergency signal intercepted,” DECA said as the red alert lights sprang on suddenly around the MegaShip. She left her work and rushed with the others to the Bridge.

“What’s this emergency signal?” TJ asked as they entered the Bridge.

“It’s a message, from the Phantom Ranger,” Ashley answered, her attention so devoted to decoding and displaying the message that she missed her best friend’s reaction to her pronouncement.

“Phantom...,” Cassie managed. She was finally hearing from him after all these months, but her disturbing visions and feelings only made her worry for his safety.

The recorded message popped up on the screen and the Phantom Ranger addressed the Astro Team. “Rangers, Dark Spectre is holding Zordon on the planet Hercuron, sector 446.78. When you get this message, come quickly. There is very little time.” Phantom paused and looked behind him as his pursuers approached. “Huh? Hurry!” Phantom reached for the beacon and the message shut off abruptly.

“Set a course for Hercuron,” Andros ordered and the team scattered to their stations.

Cassie took one last look at the now blank screen, then ran to her station as well. ‘Today will be the day.’