Check Part One. . .

First Step
Part nine: Two-Front War
By: stargazer_1017

"Wait a minute, you said I contacted you?" Cassie called out after the Phantom Ranger as he walked out of the bridge. The Phantom Ranger turned around and faced her.

"Yes. You sent out a signal saying that you were in trouble," he replied quietly. Then he spun around and walked off.

Cassie didn't let him get far. "Whoa, hold on, where are you going?"

The Phantom Ranger stopped for a moment. "I'm going to find out what's going on," he replied curtly and started walking again. Cassie shook her head at his retreating figure.

***

"Hey Astronema!" Elgar bounded into command area of the Dark Fortress.

Astronema groaned and looked up from her console. "What," she replied in a monotone voice.

"We found the Phantom Ranger!"

Astronema's eyesbrows went up with interest. "Found him? Where?" she asked, walking towards him.

"He just appeared on our scanners!" Elgar replied, clapping his hands. "See, and you said that calling him and pretending to be the Pink Ranger wouldn't work. I told you it would. That's what I get for. . ."

Astronema ignored his last comment and turned away from the babbling monster and stared thoughtfully at the viewing screen in front of her. The Phantom Ranger's back. . .hmm. . .this'll make it even more interesting and easier to torture her than I thought. "Ecliptor!" When Ecliptor approached her, Astronema said, "Get ready--I've got a plan to carry out."

***

Andros got up from his seat when Cassie walked back onto the Bridge. "What did he say?" he asked quietly.

Cassie shook her head. "Nothing. He's going off now to find out something. Did you guys find out anything?"

"Well, the signal didn't come from aboard the Megaship, that's for sure," Andros replied, taking a seat again. "We can probably trace the signal somewhere in space, depending on how long ago the Phantom Ranger received the signal."

Cassie rubbed her eyes. "I guess this is no time to be falling asleep then, huh?" she joked lightly.

"Are you okay? Did he. . .say anything to you?" Andros asked, concerned.

"No, he didn't. Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just. . ." Cassie sighed. "I've been waiting for so long to see the Phantom Ranger, and now that I finally see him, I don't want to."

Andros nodded and looked down at his console. "So what are you going to do?" he asked quietly.

"We're going to have that talk," Cassie replied. "I can't keep doing this to myself. Besides, I'm ready to move on," she added quietly. Andros looked up at her last comment, and Cassie smiled at him reassuringly. Slowly, Andros smiled back.

"Go on, head to bed," Andros said.

Cassie shook her head. "I thought I was tired, but I think I'm pretty much up. I'll head down to Earth and check on my mom."

"Be careful," Andros said.

Cassie nodded. "I will." Andros watched her exit the bridge and after the doors closed behind her, he sighed and turned back to the console. I trust you. . .Andros didn't think that Cassie would go back to the Phantom Ranger, but there was a part of him that was slightly worried. But it's Cassie's choice. It's up to her now.

Andros tried to stiffle a yawn to no avail. Maybe I should get some sleep. He stretched and got up from his seat. At the moment he walked to the doors, something beeped. Andros turned around, frowning. "D.E.C.A., what's going on?"

"Distress signal originating from the Planet Kortia."

Kortia? Andros walked up to the console in front of him and pressed a few buttons. He frowned. "The distress signal is--" he stopped when something flashed on the screen. Andros glared at the image. "Ecliptor, what do you want?"

Ecliptor managed an evil smile on his face. "Red Ranger, I've got something you might want," he taunted. Then he moved aside to reveal the unconscious figure of the Phantom Ranger.

"What are you doing with him?" Andros sneered.

"Tell the Pink Ranger it's all up to her. If she wants to save him, she'll have to meet me here in five minutes--otherwise, it's bye-bye Ranger." With that, the connection closed.

***

Cassie quickly demorphed and dug into her pocket to grab the key from her jeans. Just then, her communicator rang out. "Cassie, here," she replied.

"Cassie, Ecliptor has the Phantom Ranger," Andros said.

"What? How?"

"I don't know. He said we've got five minutes to get to Kortia before he destroys the Phantom Ranger."

Cassie nodded. "I'm on my way," she replied. Just then, something shattered inside of her house and a scream rang out. Cassie gasped and quickly opened the door. As she opened the door, something struck the doorway, making Cassie instinctively roll to the ground. She looked up and gasped. Astronema had her boomerang to her mother's throat. "Astronema! Let her go!" Cassie yelled, jumping to her feet.

Astronema only tightened her grasp on Evelyn, causing her to cry out in pain. "I knew it would be easy. You see, you may have had the first blow--but I'll have the last."

"Cassie, what is she--" Evelyn started, but Astronema didn't agree to her speaking.

"Shut up!" she yelled, and flew her against the wall, knocking her unconscious.

"Mom!" Cassie yelled, rushing toward her mother. Astronema moved swiftly to block Cassie from getting to her mom.

"Going someplace?" Astronema hissed. Cassie held out her hands to morph when suddenly, Astronema lifted her leg and kicked Cassie. Cassie was unprepared for the move, and was knocked in the stomach. She cried out in pas as she doubled-over. Astronema moved to stomp her, but Cassie mustered all her strength and, ignoring the pain, she rolled out of the way. Astronema kept trying to stomp Cassie. I have to keep moving. . . Cassie thought frantically as she kept rolling away to avoid being stomped.

Suddenly, Astronema lashed out a kick. It caught Cassie off-guard, but she swiftly moved her left hand to block the attack. Unfortunately, the kick hit Cassie's morpher and sent it flying off her wrist. As Cassie leaned to try and catch it, Astronema whipped out her staff. She brought it down, trying to hit Cassie but Cassie jumped back--and hit her head against the wall. I've got to stay up. . .pull it together. . . Cassie groaned and rubbed the back of her head. She opened her eyes and Astronema's image swam into view.

"Well look here," she heard Astronema croon. Cassie tried to shake her head, but she felt even dizzier. "A morpher for me. . ." Cassie watched helplessly as Astronema bent to pick up her morpher. "It's your mom or the Phantom Ranger--and trust me, you can't have it both ways." Astronema walked over to Evelyn's limp body. "If you decide to pick your mother, I'll be on the Megaship." Astronema laughed. "That is, if you can get there." With an evil laugh, she snapped her fingers and disappeared with her mother in a shimmer of purple light.

Cassie grimaced as she tried to get to her feet and jump towards Astronema. "NO!!!" she screamed, falling back on her knees. Cassie felt tears spring to her eyes as she hit the floor, pain erupting through her. Cassie heaved a sigh of frustration as she leaned back against the wall. Ecliptor has the Phantom Ranger, Astronema has my mother. . .Damnit!.

Without my morpher, I can't go anywhere. Cassie unconsciously touched her left wrist--and gasped. She looked down. My communicator! She touched it. It has to work, it has to. "Alpha! Alpha, can you hear me?"

"Cassie? Where are you? What's going on?"

"Alpha quick, lock onto my morpher and teleport me to the Megaship! QUICK!" Cassie said frantically.

"Hold it right there, robot," Cassie heard Astronema's voice in the background. A feeling of dread and anxiety ran through Cassie.

"ALPHA!" Cassie screamed. Please. . .hurry. . . Just as the last thought ran through her mind, Cassie disappeared in a flash of pink light.

To be contiued. . .