Author's note: Hey guys. Short chapter this week, I'm afraid, sorry. Andrea, thanks for looking at my site; as far as I can tell you're the only person who did. Dani, I like Cole/Alyssa; I think they go really well together. But you're right, Cole's upset; wait for the Aftermath series, coming after this story.

Missing Friends

"Tara?"

Tara looked up, surprised, as Cole moved through the warehouse towards her. The Rangers knew where she worked, but they'd never come here before.

"Cole. What's wrong?" He looked worried, she thought absently, leaning against the stack of boxes beside her.

"Alyssa's missing. She left college early today and no one's seen her since then."

"Have you called her?" He held up her growlphone.

"I found it in the park. Princess Shayla's asked the elephant and tiger, and they say she still has her crystals. But they don't know where she is."

"That doesn't make sense. If Mandilock took her he'd take her crystals. But she'd never put her growlphone down." She frowned, thinking.

"Can you track her?" Cole asked.

"Yeah, but not from in here. Come on." She took him through the warehouse and out the back entrance. A single tree stood in the middle of the small yard.

"Why is there a tree here?" Cole asked.

"It's always been there." Tara said, moving towards it. Cole glanced around, frowning, and she looked back at him. "What?"

"Wes is outside. The Silver Guardians are looking. Can you do this?"

"It'd be quicker if you helped me. You know Alyssa better than I do."

"Can you do it? I have to talk to Wes." Tara bit her lip.

"Yee-ess. I can. Hurry up, then. I'll be out in a minute." He nodded, hurrying out of the yard, and she turned to the tree, laying her hand against the bark.

Merrick?

That was a long shot, she knew; Merrick would have to be on earth or rock and reasonably receptive to hear her, which meant he'd have to be listening. So she was surprised to sense him listening.

You know about Alyssa?

A mental nod.

Merrick, is something wrong with Cole? There was a silence, and she made a face at herself and added, Other than the obvious.

No-why?

She shrugged, only barely remembering to send him the movement. He seems a little…off. Maybe it's me. Can you find her?

Merrick shook his head.

Try the park? Cole found her growlphone there. Tara sighed slightly. You guys never get a break, do you?

Merrick sent her a mental smile.

Gee, Merrick, that just made my day. I have to go…call me if you find anything.

I will. The contact faded until she couldn't sense him at all, and with a faint sigh she started searching for the White Ranger's essence.

Cole was talking quietly with Wes when she came out of the yard, and she made her way across to the van.

"Anything?" Cole asked her.

"No. She was in the park earlier but she vanished. Just totally vanished. I need to talk to Princess Shayla, Cole."

"Why?"

"I need to know something. It's important."

"Do you want me to talk to your boss?" Wes asked, gesturing at the building.

"Damn!" Tara hissed, glancing back at the building. "Would you? It'd help. Thanks, Wes. I'll be back later on, probably."

"You'll be back tomorrow." Wes said firmly. "Go on." Tara nodded again and turned to Cole, who gestured her away from the warehouses.

"Cole." Wes called as they turned away. Cole looked back. "We'll find her. Don't worry. Alyssa's tough." Cole nodded and headed quickly after Tara, leaving Wes to go placate her manager.

"Princess Shayla?" Cole called as they entered the courtyard.

"She's not here." Danny spoke up.

"Danny. What are you doing here?" Cole asked.

"I tripped over something in the park. Taylor sent me back to clean up." He gestured with one hand-the other was full of bandages-to his side. A long but shallow cut lay along his ribs.

"Nasty." Tara said, leaning over and touching him just above the cut. "It's not infected, as far as I can tell. Here…" she took the bandages from him.

"Where's the Princess?" Cole asked.

"She went to the park. Something was happening down there, she said." Danny hissed as Tara wrapped his ribs for him.

"What was happening?"

"She didn't know. Not an Org, she thought, but something important. Ouch!"

"Hold still." Tara said unrepentantly.

"What are you doing?"

"Hold still, I said." She considered for a second before adding, "This is gonna feel warm for a minute."

"Why? What are you doing?"

"Making sure it's not infected."

"How?" Cole asked.

"By raising your temperature slightly. It'll kill off any bugs lurking in your system."

"We don't have time for this." Cole muttered, turning to pace away.

"Better to take a minute now then have Danny collapse later."

"It's nothing, Tara, really." Danny gently nudged her away and pulled his top back down over the bandage.

"Big tough Rangers." Tara muttered in disgust. "All right, then. Cole, can we go?"

"Yeah."

Danny scrambled to follow them. "What do you mean, 'big tough Rangers'?"

"Big, tough Rangers refusing to admit when they're hurt or accept help." She peeled away from him as they reached the park, searching for Princess Shayla.

"She's over there." Cole pointed to her left, and she turned, automatically following his lead. The Princess was talking quietly with Merrick, ignoring, as always, the people staring at her. Tara headed towards them without looking back.

"{Princess.}" She saw Merrick start at the Animarian, but she didn't hesitate. "{Can Orgs create pocket dimensions?}"

"I don't understand." Shayla protested.

"{The old enemies here created pocket dimensions, places only they could get to. Places not part of the earth.}" Tara stared at her. "{Can Orgs do that? Other than the Nexus?}"

"Maybe…"

"{Please.}" Tara cut her off. "{Animarian. Humor me.}"

"{Cole knows Animarian.}" Merrick pointed out. "{There's no one else around.}" Tara nodded impatiently; Cole had picked up scraps of Animarian from the three of them and could hold a very limited conversation.

"{Not enough, he doesn't. Please?}" Shayla nodded patiently.

"{Toxica might be able to make these dimensions. Master Org certainly would; he created the Nexus, after all. But I don't think any other Org could.}"

"Thank you." Tara murmured, turning away. "That's what I thought."

"Tara?" Merrick caught her arm.

"Alyssa vanished earlier. Just vanished. I can't track her…and you don't have teleportation. I can't think what else it could be."

"What is it?" Cole demanded. He'd been waiting more or less patiently as they talked.

"I told you." Tara wasn't looking at him as she spoke. "Alyssa vanished earlier. The only thing I can think is that an Org's opened a pocket dimension." Cole flinched.

"You mean Alyssa may not even be on Earth?"

Tara nodded. "I can show you where she disappeared, but that's all I can do. Pocket dimensions are not my department." Cole nodded distractedly.

"Show us." Merrick said, when Cole didn't speak. Tara nodded and wandered away, pausing every so often to touch a tree lightly in passing.