Disclaimer: Saban owns the Rangers. "You've Got A Friend In Me" is by Randy Newman from the Toy Story soundtrack. There's a new character in this story. I suppose I should take credit for his creation, but I had help. *grin* I would say his name, but that would sorta ruin things. :) And I would like to introduce y'all to one of my favorite bands. They're the Japanese band, Dreams Come True. They have a *fabulous* song in English called, "Eternity" which is on The Swan Princess soundtrack. (The Japanese version of this song can be found on their album, Delicious, though on there it's called, "Signs Of Love" and I've been told by my sister-in-law that the versions are not much alike lyrics-wise. *grin*). For the purposes of this series, I have stated in this story that Cassie wrote and sang the song "Eternity". This is entirely untrue, and I offer my humble apologies to Dreams Come True. But if you ever have the chance, please listen to it. It is the most perfect PHANTOM and Cassie song I've ever heard. :) (The soundtrack may be hard to find, but if you rent the movie The Swan Princess there is a video for it at the end, and that way you can see the band too. *grin*)
Author's Note: Thanks Travler, for the solution I used before, now, and later, to the problem I have now and later! *grin* Thanks Amanda, for wanting to be a hermit! *grin* Thanks Starhawk, for many things that I'm sure you're aware of, but have probably forgotten! *grin*

6 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 9 hours, 22 minutes...
"Hello?" So distracted was Phantom as he stared at their hands that he did not realize at first that the man was still talking to him. "You still there? Because if you're gone, I've got your hand." The joke was lost on Phantom, but he could see the smile on the man's face and knew that some form of humor must have been intended.

"I am still here," he answered.

"Good, then I'll give this back to you," the man grinned and released his hand. Thunder cracked overhead, startling Phantom so that he glanced up. With the heavy tree cover he could not see much of the sky. There had been storm clouds gathering when he flew his starfighter in, but he had forgotten the impending storm in the events that had happened since his landing.

Around his legs the first dog was still sniffing him patiently, looking up at his face from time to time, as if considering him. Then it would go back to sniffing. The dog was yellow in color, stood tall at the shoulder, had long ears that lay back against his head, and had a piece of cloth tied around his neck.

The other dog looked strikingly different than the yellow dog. He was brown and black and stood a few inches taller than the yellow dog, though he somehow looked smaller in body size. His ears were pointed and stood upright. He wore a harness that the man was holding, and he hung back, not approaching Phantom. Whether it was to avoid him or the other dog, Phantom did not know. But it was clear that the dogs did not like each other.

Thunder cracked again and this time Phantom saw the lightning that preceded it. The storm was getting nearer.

"Sounds like quite a storm brewing. You don't have any place to get out of the rain, do you?" the man asked.

Phantom had been about to say yes, then glanced back at his starfighter. He couldn't say yes. The man knew that they were in the middle of nowhere, so Phantom logically should have nowhere to go. "No, I do not."

"Then c'mon," the man said, motioning with his hand as he turned around. "We'll go to my place and have some laughs while the storm passes. You can tell me what you're doing halfway up a mountain."

Phantom again glanced back at his starfighter. He thought he had everything he needed, and he could always teleport back if he had to. He turned back to see the man was petting his dog and waiting for Phantom to follow him.

But Phantom hesitated to do so. He told himself it was silly to fear people in general just because he had never really interacted with them before. It was only a new experience, one of many he would surely have on his journey. And he knew talking with others was something he was going to have to get used to. It appeared to be the only way he would find her.

This time the surrounding woods lit up and the thunder immediately followed. He felt a hard push from behind that made his knees buckle slightly. The dog that had been sniffing him was now behind him, pushing him toward the man.

"Are you coming? We're gonna have to hurry if we don't want to get caught in this storm," the man said.

Taking a deep breath to calm his illogical fears, he lifted his slight pack to his shoulder. "Yes," he finally answered. Anything more was obscured by a happy bark from the dog at his side.

The man laughed, "So you both agree, good. Then let's go." As the man turned, the dog in the harness obediently stood and started leading him forward. There was a narrow path they appeared to be following, one that wound through the woods probably to the top of the mountain. They were headed down this same path, toward the base of the mountain presumably to the man's 'place'.

Phantom watched amazed as the guide dog lead the blind man along the flattest and clearest areas of the trail, ensuring the man never stumbled or lost his footing. He felt sure they must walk this trail frequently as man and dog seemed to know each turn by heart. Phantom followed along behind; the other dog running eagerly at his side. Shortly he realized the man was talking to him again. And again, he had not been listening.

"Are you spacing out on me again?"

"What?" Phantom asked, confused.

"I asked your name, since you didn't supply it earlier."

"I...," and Phantom stopped, at a loss for what to say.

"C'mon," the man urged. "It can't be any worse than 'Bgoua'."

"Bgoua?" Phantom couldn't help but ask. Admittedly he knew little of Earth names, or even of the concept of naming in general, but this 'Bgoua' sounded very strange indeed.

The man laughed. "I knew you were spacing out earlier when I introduced myself. No one reacts that calmly to hearing the name 'Bgoua Aakog'," the man turned and smiled, placing a hand on his chest, "which is me, by the way." He turned back and he and his guide dog continued on. "All I can say is that my parents had an interesting sense of humor. But I figure the name has served me well. I'm a writer by trade, and my editor begged me to use a pen name. But my thinking is that readers will definitely remember a name like Bgoua." His explanation ended as he questioned Phantom again. "So, are you going to tell me your name, or not?" he asked, a touch of humor in his voice.

"I, I do not know how to answer your question."

Bgoua frowned, "You're going to have to be more specific. Do you not remember your name? Like some tragic fall on a hiking trail has given you amnesia, forcing you to wander aimlessly in the wilds of the forest until you remember who you are? Or are you in actuality a super-secret secret agent, who is simultaneously working for 15 countries at once while trying to save the world from certain annihilation by the one ally we least suspect, so you can't reveal your name 'cause then you'd have to kill me?"

At Phantom's stunned silence, Bgoua finally said, "What? I'm a writer. You can't expect me not to have wild guesses." He smiled again, adding, "So what is it really?"

Phantom continued his silence, truly not knowing how to answer. Truth be told, he did not have a name. Even to his earliest childhood memories, he could not remember existing anywhere but in his masters' service. And they had never called him anything other than 'Ranger'. The other words of his title, 'Phantom', 'Shadow', 'Dark', and many others, had been added by the natives of various planets.

And that was all it was; a title, not a name. He supposed it was yet another way they had attempted to thwart his individuality; deprive him of an identity and he would follow them blindly. And he had, until he had fallen in love. Cassie had been the first to ask the question he could not answer...

It was the truth and the most he could say. He did not have a name to give her, no matter how badly he wanted her to know him, to love him.

And now, two years later, hiking down a mountain trail with a blind man and two dogs, he still did not have an answer to that question. He had no name; he was not a 'person'. He only had a title; he was his job. And he had given up his job for her.

"I-I do not have a name," he said finally.

Bgoua stopped momentarily and turned, a skeptical look on his face. "Seriously? You just don't have one?"

"Yes," he admitted, his statement punctuated by yet another ear-splitting crack of thunder.

Bgoua was silent for several seconds, seeming to consider that. Phantom was worried he had succeeded in scaring the kind man off, when he saw Bgoua reach out a searching hand in his direction. He found Phantom's arm and clapped him on the shoulder.

"A man of mystery," he smiled. "I like that! But you realize of course, I'll have to take it upon myself to find a name for you. I have to have something to call you." With a mischievous grin on his face he added, "But with a name like mine, I'm probably the last person who should be naming anyone. Let's start with 'A'." But a second later he muttered, "Damn." The storm wasn't waiting any longer as the skies had opened up on them.

"C'mon Androcles!" Bgoua shouted above the thunder. "We have a ways to go yet!"

Phantom grinned and started after Bgoua again, the yellow dog sticking close to his heels.

By the time they had reached Bgoua's 'place', it was a good thirty minutes later and they were soaked. Bgoua's cabin, as he had called it, could hardly be called that. There among the trees stood a very large one-story house. None of the natural surroundings had been disturbed in its construction, as the home blended perfectly in with the woods; giant pines growing right outside the front door.

The electricity, Bgoua explained, came from several generators behind the house, a satellite dish brought him and his wife TV, and cellular technology provided them with their communication devices, both phone and internet. Phantom was glad for all the reading he had done over the last two years about Cassie's homeworld. The fact that he had some knowledge of what things were and how they worked was definitely to his advantage.

"First things first," Bgoua said as they entered the house. "We need to get some dry clothes before we catch our death." Phantom shut the door behind him as the yellow dog ran in the house. They were in a small side room that Bgoua called a mudroom. He said it was a place people could take off their muddy shoes and wet coats before tracking everything through the house. The dog stood next to Phantom and shook quickly, spraying water in all directions as he shed the rain from his fur. The guide dog growled at the other dog, but shook similarly after Bgoua removed his harness. Still growling at each other, both dogs left the mudroom and went into the house.

Phantom obediently followed Bgoua's lead and removed his well-worn boots, standing them on a mat by the wall. The boots were so worn thin, they were little more than covering for his feet. He had cared little for clothing, as he spent almost all his time morphed. But now he stood there, soaked to the skin in the one set of clothes he had, and Bgoua seemingly read his mind.

"Do you have a change of clothes, Beuford?"

"No," Phantom answered chagrinned.

"No worries," Bgoua answered, walking into the house and motioning for Phantom to follow. "I'll set you up."

Phantom did not know what the slang phrase meant, but he assumed it meant something good. Bgoua reached into the bathroom and tossed several towels correctly in Phantom's direction. He caught them and followed Bgoua as he walked to another door. He opened the door and felt around on the wall for the light switch, then ushered Phantom in. It appeared to be an office and library all in one.

"I do a lot of my writing here," Bgoua explained. "Or I take a walk into the woods with my tape recorder. That's what I was trying to do today." He laughed, "Amanda, my wife, hates it if I go hiking when she's gone. But she's off in town visiting friends, and I wanted to write, so...," he let his words trail off as he shrugged.

He pointed to the far wall and added, "Unless Amanda moved them on me, there should be several boxes over there full of clothes I was going to give away to the DAV. Take anything you want from them." Phantom started to protest, but Bgoua turned and pointed at him then, "And I mean that, Cecil. Be quiet and take whatever you need. I like my clothes loose, so they should fit you regardless of your size. If you don't take them, I'll just give them to someone else."

He headed toward the door, stopping to say, "I'm gonna go change. When you're done, come on into the kitchen and I'll make us some food." He shut the door behind him, leaving Phantom alone.

Phantom just stood there shaking his head. He could not believe his good fortune at meeting a man so kind. For surely not everyone on Earth was this nice, especially to a total stranger.

He rummaged through the boxes, sorting through the clothes. He was a little taller than Bgoua and a more built, but Bgoua had been right about the clothes being big, for they fit Phantom well.

Soon dressed in his 'new' t-shirt and jeans and drying his hair with a towel, he started trying to fill his now obviously too small pack. Wanting to travel light, he chose another pair of jeans, plus a few t-shirts and sweatshirts. Even what little he took was too much for his pack, but he stuffed it down anyway, throwing the flap closed over the top. Bgoua had also left him several pairs of socks which he liked a lot. They were thick and warm to his feet, but were thin and conforming enough that they reminded him of his boots.

What he didn't like were the hiking boots he had found in one of the boxes. The large shoes made his feet feel unwieldy and extremely heavy. Taking them off, he had been about to deposit them back in the box when he reconsidered. His feet might need stronger protection on his journey than just his threadbare boots. Grudgingly he decided to set the hiking boots by the mudroom door and make his decision later.

The last thing he took from the boxes was an old leather jacket. From what he had studied of the Rockies, he knew it would be winter there very soon, and he knew he needed some protection from the coming cold. He slipped the jacket on, feeling its immediate warmth. In the pockets he found a too small pair of gloves that left his wrists exposed. How fortunate then that he wasn't counting on them to hide his morpher, he mused. He twisted his wrist, causing the morpher to appear. The ruby winked in the light before he twisted his wrist again, sending the morpher and his life-sustaining ruby back to their subspace hiding place.

He took off the gloves and jacket, shoving the gloves back in the pockets of the jacket. He draped the jacket over his arm and shouldered his pack. Grabbing the shoes, the wet towels, and his wet clothes, he left the room, turning off the light before he shut the door.

Bgoua must have heard the door shut, because Phantom heard him calling from somewhere in the house. "Think you can start a fire in the fireplace in the living room, Dugan? The dogs will love ya for it!"

"I think I can manage that," Phantom answered. He put the shoes at the door before searching out the living room. He found it when he saw the two dogs sitting hear the extinguished fire. He entered the room and dropped his things on the couch before heading for the fireplace. As he approached, Bgoua's guide dog tried to sniff him, but stopped as the other dog jumped up and ran to Phantom excitedly. The guide dog started growling once again, a growling that the yellow dog answered. Phantom tried to quiet the second dog, shushing him and laying a hand on his head. Much to his surprise the yellow dog quieted instantly, leaving only the guide dog's unhappy vocalizations.

Phantom soon had a good fire going, making the wet dogs very happy. After some initial barking and snapping over prime positions, once again stopped by Phantom, the two dogs settled down to enjoy the fire's warmth.

Bgoua had appeared earlier and had taken Phantom's wet clothes and towels to the dryer. Now he reappeared in the small dining room that was attached to the living room, with a large pot of food he called 'chili'. A contradictory name, Phantom thought, for although it was quite good, it was also very hot. Bgoua talked all through the meal, telling Phantom about his life, and why a New York Times best-selling author lived the middle of nowhere.

"Ever since we were in college, Amanda always said that she wanted to be a hermit. She wanted to live in some remote spot where she could stay away from people. So we live here," Bgoua motioned around the remote house, "and she's the one who goes to town all the time." He laughed, "Not that I mind living here. I like the quiet, far away from fans and such. It's a nice getaway." Finally he paused and asked Phantom what he had been dreading.

"So, now you know why I'm here. Why are you?"

Hesitating for only a moment, Phantom reasoned that honesty had served him well so far, so why not go with that? "I am searching for someone."

"A girl? The love of your life, right?"

Astonished, Phantom gaped, "How did you know?"

"Men, if we're not with the woman of our dreams, then we're chasing after her." Phantom grinned at Bgoua's answer, as the man continued. "So where is she? Wait, don't answer that. If you knew where she was, then you wouldn't have to search. Duh," he chastised himself. "Okay, let's try this, what's her name?"

"Cassie."

"Beautiful name," Bgoua agreed.

"As is she," Phantom sighed.

"I'll have to take your word on that, since you flashing a picture of her would do little good."

Phantom had to admire the courage and humor with which Bgoua accepted his disability. Phantom had never had the opportunity to just sit and talk to someone before. And despite Phantom's fears, Bgoua had a way of making him feel totally at ease. He really liked this man, someone who was fast becoming the first friend he had ever had.

So he started talking about Cassie, or trying to anyway. He had resolved that no one would know of his past life, not even Cassie. There was no reason that she should ever know about all the hardships he had gone through in his so-called life. He would never inflict upon her the kind of pain that knowing the truth would cause her. But he told Bgoua what he could, about how he and she had been always been separated through misfortune and necessity. Bgoua nodded and asked many questions, but he allowed Phantom to duck out on far more than he answered.

Finally it struck him how he could show Cassie to Bgoua. "I have a tape of her singing," Phantom offered. At least he thought he did. If he had read the label she had put on the tape correctly, then it was a tape of her singing songs she had written.

"Now we're talking! Let's hear it!" Bgoua said, holding out his hand for the tape. Phantom fished it out of his pack and handed it over. Bgoua walked over into the living room and put the tape in the stereo, grabbing the remote and cranking the volume. As he made his way back to the dining room, the music began.

Phantom sat there, entranced as much by the words as by her voice. He knew she was speaking to him. The song spoke perfectly of their love; it said exactly what he had felt from the moment he first saw her.

"Wow," Bgoua said, breaking Phantom out of his daydream. "She has a gorgeous voice."

Phantom nodded, and then remembered he had to speak. "Yes, she does." As the song continued on, Bgoua interrupted again with a question.

"Does she want you to find her?"

Phantom thought for a moment about Cassie's message beacon, but assented, "Yes, I believe she does."

"Well, then you just have to get out there and find her!" Bgoua grinned. "I'll help you however I can."

"Why?" Phantom asked suddenly.

"Why what?"

"Why are you being so nice to me? You have no idea who I am and you've taken me into your home and given me so much. Why?"

"Why not?" Bgoua answered immediately. "It just the way I was raised. I believe in helping people. I also believe in true love. And if you need help finding your true love, I'm willing to help."

Then he sighed, somehow guessing that Phantom wasn't totally believing him. "Look, if you want to pay me back, then do this: when you find her, come back here and tell me all about your trip and how it ended. Does she love you? Does she want you? Do you both live 'happily every after'? I could be totally selfish and tell you that I would love to write up your story as a novel, which is true. But mostly I want to know how your 'story' turns out, because I have to admit, your half-answers to my questions have me more than a little curious about you." Phantom looked down, a little embarrassed at his fears to share his past.

"See, cliffhangers suck," Bgoua continued, "unless you're the writer. Then you love them because you know you'll have the readers hanging on the edge of their seats till you choose to continue the story. But as the reader, cliffhangers are the worst endings possible." He smiled at Phantom, "So find her, and let me know what happens. Don't leave me with a cliffhanger. Deal?" he finished and extended his hand.

What could it hurt? Phantom thought. He would love for Cassie and Bgoua to meet. Perhaps she would accompany him back here, if and when he found her that is. "Deal," he agreed, echoing Bgoua's word and guesture.

As they shook on their agreement, Bgoua's guide dog approached, lying his head on Bgoua's knee. "Hello Angelo," he greeted the dog, giving him a friendly pat before offering him a slice of bread from the table. At the sound of Angelo gulping it down, the yellow dog raised his ears and ran over to Phantom.

Hearing the other dog's approach, Bgoua commented, "I'm guessing Yellow there likes you."

"Yellow?" Phantom questioned, looking down at the dog seated beside him. When the dog saw he had Phantom's attention, he stood, tail wagging quickly.

"Yeah, 'Yellow'! Don't tell me everyone's been lying to me! What, he's really a black lab, isn't he?" Bgoua joked sarcastically.

"No," Phantom laughed, offering the dog a piece of bread. "He is yellow."

"Well, you can call him whatever you like. 'Yellow' was just my alternative to calling him 'Hey You', which is actually a good thing, now that that's what I call you, Eugene," he teased.

"I should call him something? But he is not mine to name," Phantom answered confused.

"He's sure not mine. He's just a stray who showed up here a month or so ago. I can't keep him because Angelo and he don't get along. But he refuses to leave. Heck, Yellow doesn't like anyone except you. I may be blind, but I'm not deaf. He's been by your side practically since you met," he grinned. "And since the day he showed up, he gave me the impression that he was just stopping by while he was waiting on someone." Bgoua's grin turned mischievous in the blink of an eye as he said, "And it looks like you finally made it." Before Phantom could protest he added, "Besides, everyone should have a traveling companion. Unless you just like being alone."

Phantom stared down at the dog that did indeed seem to like him. "Companion...," he whispered, petting the dog's head, the dog who so resembled hers. If he had not known it was impossible, he would have sworn he was indeed her dog. Then Bgoua's sudden laughter caused him to look up.

"Sorry. I just realized how funny that was for a man with no name to name his dog. Appropriate then to just call him, 'Companion'."

More appropriate than you know, he thought; his job for his name, just like me. "I suppose it is," Phantom finally agreed.

"So you'll be taking him with you then?"

Phantom looked back at the yellow dog. He looked so much like hers, but he knew that wasn't why he was going to say yes. He was tired of being alone. If the dog wanted him, then he wanted the dog.

"If he wishes to accompany me, he is welcome." And Bgoua laughed at Phantom's startled exclamation as the newly dubbed Companion barked his answer and attempted to jump into Phantom's lap.

****
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
You've got a friend in me
Yeah, you've got a friend in me
****

THE END