Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers.

Author's Note: Wow. I sure got a lot of reviews last chapter. Thanks to all of you! Today we go back and show you how Cassie got captured, yay! I'm planning on posting a one-shot about how Phantom became Phantom in the next two days. It would help you understand part of the ending to this fic if you read it. I hope to post it today but it keeps growing and I'm not sure how well that will work out. I'll tell you when it's up. But for now, enjoy this fic!

When It Rains…

Chapter 13 - Prisoner

Three Days Earlier…

"The compound is only a few hundred yards ahead," Cassie said, pocketing her scanner.

"Cassie," Airek said, his voice coming out of the air as he gently took her elbow in his hand. "Be careful."

"Me be careful? You're the one who has some weird penchant for running off into dangerous situations."

"Yes, but I can be invisible."

"And I can charm my way out of almost anything. You of all people should know that.

"Now let's go," she sighed, turning back toward the building, "I don't want to be late."

"For what?" Airek asked, following closely behind.

"For T.J. and Ch'heeka meeting. They'd make a great couple."

"They do have a great deal in common. They both have good instincts for battle situations and they are both sufficient warriors."

"'Sufficient'? It almost sounds like you're insulting my friend."

"Never."

"Good. Now, let's go see Zordon. I've missed that big, echoy voice of his."


Airek had never before wished that he was not invisible as he did now. He would give every year that insane, life-altering plan of his had given him if only she would be the invisible one now. She was very good at hiding, as any Ranger should be, but there was the downside that she was occasionally seen and those that saw her took notice. Cassie was a very attractive woman, regardless of what species you were a member of, and men tended to notice her, and continue noticing her for as long as they could.

"Hold it!"

'Finally,' Cassie sighed. She was wondering when someone would realize she wasn't supposed to be here, it would make things easier. 'Don't get jealous if this goes bad,' she thought at Phantom, knowing full well that even if he could hear he wouldn't listen.

"Yes?" Cassie asked sweetly, turning to the woman who had stopped her.

"Who are you?" the woman questioned harshly, looking Cassie over.

Cassie was suddenly very glad for those weeks in the bar, it made her more used to looking into faces that looked like they had been melted off. "Dolly, Dolly Levi, at your service."

"And what exactly are you doing here?" the woman asked crossly.

Cassie took a deep breath, show time. "I'm a friend of Parix'. I just can't seem to find him."

"'Friend,' hmm?"

Cassie let out a giggle, "Well…" and felt a hand press into her lower back. The woman didn't seem to notice the flash of surprise, then annoyance mixed with happiness that crossed the girl's face.

"Parix is probably with the 'patient,'" the woman pointed down the hall, the last word said with laughing sarcasm. "I'm sure he'll be happy for the interruption."

"I hope so." Cassie hurried off down the hall and, when the woman had rounded the last corner, quickly ducked inside, Phantom right behind her.

"What is it now?" an annoyed Parix asked, never turning away from his work at the base of Zordon's tube.

Zordon's face lit up with pride when he saw Cassie enter the room and Cassie was too busy beaming at her former mentor to answer Parix question.

"Well, what?" Parix asked, now angry as he turned. "Dolly," he breathed in surprise.

"Dolly" rushed forward, clapping a hand over Parix' mouth and pinning him to the wall.

"I'm really sorry about this," was all she gave as explanation before turning back to the seemingly empty room. "How long until we're out of here?"

"A few minutes," a disembodied voice said and Parix could see that many of the controls were being moved by an invisible force. "Take care of the camera," the voice said.

"Dolly" looked up and, seeing the device in the corner, raised her hand, a blaster materializing in it as she did.

"Who are you?" Parix tried to ask, but the words were still muffled by her hand.

"I really am sorry," she said, turning back to him.

"Ch'heeka should be here in less than a minute."

"Good," there was a loud bang on the door, "because I doubt we have two."

The door suddenly broke in and a horde of Paranatrons swept into the room. Some were quickly stopped by the invisible figure. Cassie released Parix and jumped into the fray.

Parix sank to the floor as he watched the display. Dolly was an amazing fighter. She ducked and dodged, striking out at just the right moment to inflict the maximum damage while keeping herself safe. But Parix did notice one slight miscalculation on her part. The device on her left wrist—he had often questioned her about it and she had always given some quick answer about it monitoring her life signs—one of her attackers managed to pull it off. The second the device was off her wrist all thoughts of safety seemed to leave the girl's head, even the large floating head, who was intently watching the battle, seemed worried when this happened. The creature dropped the device as quickly as he had taken it from her and she lunged for it, just as it, the tube, and the invisible man disappeared in a flurry of sparks. Dolly had been left behind.


Phantom sank to the floor of Ch'heeka's ship, gently taking the morpher in his hands.

"SHE WILL BE FINE," Zordon assured.

Phantom did not move and after a moment Ch'heeka called back. "What do you want us to do?" She had truly liked the Pink Ranger and did not like to think of what Dark Specter would do to her. Also, she did not want to think about Phantom without her, it had become clear to Ch'heeka over the past few weeks that Phantom had a great dependence on the girl, even if she was not with him he needed to know that she was safe, for his own peace of mind.

"You will take Zordon back to Earth. Find the other Rangers, they will help us. Teleport me back to my own ship. I will not leave her."

"What are you going to do?"

"I will wait. I will wait for your return. My ship can stay hidden indefinitely. Just hurry."


"You know," Zhane mumbled, walking onto the bridge, "I have had very little alone time with your sister since that whole wish thing. But everyone else gets alone time with their girlfriends and I would really like to know why you all hate me."

"We don't hate you," Carlos said. "Plus, I didn't get to spend any time with Leslie and you don't see me complaining."

"That's because you're afraid to talk to her," Karone said superiorly as she glided past.

"So what's the emergency?" Andros sighed, taking his seat and looking around at his friends. "And where is T.J.? Didn't he call this meeting?"

"Yes," T.J. said, walking in and wiping grease off his hands, "I did. I was just busy installing a few new components."

"What sorts of new components?" Andros asked, rising.

A smile, a real, true smile, appeared on T.J.'s face for the first time in weeks. "Come and see."

The Rangers followed, giving each other confused looks and shrugs as T.J. led them through the engine room and to the room where Zhane had been sleeping all those years. A young, obviously alien woman met them at the door.

"So, these are the other Rangers," she said. "I'm Ch'heeka."

"Phantom sent her," T.J. replied, "with this." T.J. stepped aside to allow the others a clear view.

"Zordon!" Ashley cried, racing forward.

"Zordon," the others murmured, following their friend.

"HELLO RANGERS," the interdimensional being said, then added with a slight nod, "AND KARONE, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK AMONG US."

"Zordon," Andros began, shaking his head in an attempt to find words.

"We've missed you," Carlos supplied.

"I HAVE MISSED YOU ALL AS WELL CARLOS, BUT WE HAVE IMPORTANT MATTERS TO DEAL WITH." Zordon nodded to T.J. and Ch'heeka who had hung back at the door.

"Dark Specter managed to kidnap the Pink Ranger," Ch'heeka said.

Andros' response was immediate. "DECA, set a course for Aquitar."

"NO ANDROS," Zordon said. "I WILL BE ACCOMPANYING YOU ON THIS MISSION."

"I disagree," Andros said, apparently more sure of himself in the older being's presence when he was in leader-mode. "You give off a specific energy signature, Dark Specter's forces will be able to find us much more easily if you are on board."

"TRUE, BUT YOU CAN MASK THE SHIP USING AN INTERPHASIC SHIELD."

"If we had one," Andros countered, somehow managing to keep his tone semi-respectful.

"I do," Ch'heeka offered from the back.

Zordon simply nodded, smiling.

"Then let's install it, fast," Andros said. "It's good to have you back," he said to Zordon before leaving the room.

"GO," Zordon said to the remaining Rangers, "YOU HAVE MANY PREPARATIONS TO MAKE IF WE WANT TO SAVE CASSIE."


'Déjà vu,' Cassie thought. She was, yet again, being held captive at a banquet being attended by her worst enemies.

"What do we have here?" Dark Specter asked, gently lifting Cassie's head to force her to look at him. "A little lost Ranger, and the Phantom's lover to boot. He would never leave you." The monarch turned to the guards. "Torture her. I want it transmitted on every frequency so that no communications can take place in this system."

"But why sir?" Elgar asked.

"Because you buffoon," Divatox snapped, punching her nephew in the gut, "that way Phantom will hear it."

Cassie kept her head high as she was lead from the room among jeers from her enemies. Her friends would come. Airek would come.