Chapter 2

June 5th, 2007 would be a day where everything would change. Alvin sat on the Bridge of the Astro Megaship and watched on the viewscreen as hundreds of people were gathered on the sidewalk below in anticipation of Bob Barker's final taping as host of The Price Is Right.

Jason knew that his girlfriend, Melinda, was down there and possibly a target of the enraged Oliver Schroder. "D.E.C.A., are you finished scanning the DNA sample I gave you?" Jason asked. "Affirmative," D.E.C.A. said.

Jason walked over to a control panel. "Then place the current location of that individual on screen X-333," he said. The specified screen filled with the image of Melinda being interviewed by a KCBS (Los Angeles' local CBS network affiliate) reporter.

"Good. She's all right," Jason said. He then turned to Alvin. "But, I'd feel more at ease about Mel after we get rid of that son-of-a-bitch Schroeder." "I understand how it feels to have your girlfriend in a situation of danger without being able to do something about it," Alvin said.

Alvin looked over at Brittany, who was talking to Johnny 5 about what job Johnny would have on the tour. D.E.C.A.'s voice came on the pickups. "Alert! Alert! I have lost contact with Melinda Crosby!" Jason turned back to the screen, where a big red "CONTACT LOST" label covered the monitor. "Max, Alvin, we need to move!"

"Right!" Max said. "Alvin, care to do the honors?" Alvin nodded, then picked up his helmet. "Back to Action!" Alvin yelled before the Toon Force Rangers and the Neo-Space Rangers teleported into the action zone.

Down on the sidewalk outside of the Bob Barker Studio, chaos reigned as the Rangers resolved from the teleport beams. "What happened?" the Red Neo-Space Ranger said to a young man with black hair wearing a PriceIs Right logo t-shirt.

"I don't know," the young man, identified on his price tag/name tag as "David," said. "One moment, that young woman who is hanging out with the guy from Jason's Jam-Time was being interviewed by KCBS, then the next moment, she's being carried away by these guys in ninja suits!"

"Well, don't worry, David," the Red Toon Force Ranger said. "We'll find her." "Gordo, is that you?" the White Toon Force Ranger said. "Lizzie?" David said. "Is that you?"

The White T.F. Ranger walked up to David and took off her helmet. "It is you," David said. "We have a good feeling where the victim is, so..." Lizzie started to say before Roxanne jabbed her with an elbow to the ribs. Lizzie quickly put her helmet back on.

CBS security guards were approaching the site. "Toon Force Rangers! Thank God you're here!" the lead guard said. The Red T.F. Ranger nodded. "You can tell Mr. Barker that we're on the case and that he can carry on with his final show as per scheduled," he said. "'Cause after all, the show must go on."

The Toon Force and Neo-Space Rangers teleported away amidst the cheers of those in line. David smiled as he saw the white teleport trail disappear into the endless blue sky. "Be careful, Lizzie," David whispered.

Back aboard the Astro Megaship, the twelve Rangers resolved in the equipment bay. "Max, we'll handle the search in the sky using our Astro Sliders," Alvin said. "Very well," Max said. "We'll handle the search on the streets using the T.F. Roadsters."

"We need to find Melinda quickly, or else she'll be lost forever," Alvin said. "Rangers, let's go to work!"

High above Beverly Hills, Eleanor found a black van near a storm drain tunnel. Using the sensors in her helmet, she saw Schroeder and his goons, as well as a bound and gagged Melinda Crosby. "Eleanor to Alvin. I found them."

Schroeder laughed as Melinda continued to struggle against the ropes which bound her to the chair. "Struggle all you want, missy," he said. "There's nothing that can save you." "WANNA BET?" a voice called out. Schroeder and his cronies turned to where the voice emanated.

The seven Toon Force Rangers and six Neo-Space Rangers stood, hands on their sidearms. "Give us Crosby!" the Green Toon Force Ranger said. "Never!" Schroeder said. "I want Number 5!" "You're in no position to negotiate," the Red Neo-Space Ranger said. "But if it's Number 5 you want, it's Number 5 you'll get! D.E.C.A., energize!"

Four flares of white light resolved behind Schroeder and his men. Schroeder cringed when he heard a familiar voice, tinged with anger, say "Hello, Bozos!" Schroeder slowly turned around and saw Number 5 and the Three Stooges, their eyes red with anger and restored laser cannons on their shoulders.

"You tried to disassemble Melinda Crosby! That's unacceptable! Moe, Larry, Curly! Lock on target and fire at will!" Number 5 said. The laser cannons of the Three Stooges lit up and fired. A red laser beam lanced out from each cannon and melted the belt buckles of the nearest kidnapper, causing his pants to fall to his knees.

Number 5 rolled forward and fired his laser cannon at Schroeder's belt buckle. Schroeder's pants fell to his knees. "All right, all right! We surrender!" Schroeder yelled. "Survey says... right answer!" Number 5 said. "Rangers, they're all yours!"

As the Neo-Space Rangers moved to take Schroeder and his men into custody, the Green Toon Force Ranger moved to untie the ropes binding Melinda to the chair. After the Green Ranger removed her gag, Melinda took a deep breath. "Who are you?" she said.

"I'm the Green Toon Force Ranger," he said. "Your parents and boyfriend will be happy to learn you're okay. They're at the studio waiting for you."

A couple of hours later, Jason stood at the indoor entrance to the Bob Barker Studio, nervously fingering a small green case in the pocket of his sport jacket. He heard applause coming from the other side of the double doors he stood in front of.

"I'm nervous as hell," Jason said into his communicator. "Well, don't worry," Alvin said from the Astro Megaship. "It'll be over before you know it."

Jason looked over at a nearby monitor, which showed Bob moving over to where Melinda sat in Contestant's Row. "Now, Melinda, at this point in the show, I'd ask Rich for the next name on his list. But, I decided that you should have the honor," Bob said, handing his trademark microphone to Melinda.

"Okay, Rich, what's the next name on your list?" Melinda said. Jason mentally steeled himself for a possible rejection as the doors were opened by two red-coated CBS pages. "Jason Archer, come on down! You're the next contestant on The Price Is Right" the announcer said.

The Jason's Jam-Time theme (actually the theme to the 1994 nighttime version of The Price Is Right) began to play as Jason began to jog down to Contestant's Row. He smiled as Melinda shot an "if looks could kill" look at Jason and Bob.

Melinda handed the long, thin microphone back to Bob as Jason arrived at Contestant's Row. "I know Jason's not really here to be a contestant. Are you, Jason?" Bob asked before handing the microphone to Jason.

"No, I'm not, Bob," Jason said. "Bob, I'm a loyal friend and true, but humor me. How many 'unique requests' have you had over the years?" Bob noticed the inflection Jason put on "unique requests," and smiled as he turned to where a producer sat. The producer held up three fingers, then mouthed something.

Jason could see that the producer was saying "Including when Jeff proposed to Rebecca two years ago." "Three, to our knowledge," Bob said after turning back to face Jason. "Well, today, on your very last show here on CBS, you'll have your fourth," Jason said as he pulled the green case from his pocket.

Turning to Melinda, Jason opened the case and fell to one knee. "Melinda Jane Crosby, will you do me the ultimate honor of being my wife?" Jason asked.

The audience burst into cheers as Melinda began to cry, the emotion openly visible on her face. "Yes, I will!" she said. Jason began to slip the ring on her finger, but stopped as he heard his communicator beep.

Jason pressed the OFF control as he finished putting the ring on Melinda's finger.

An hour later, back on the Astro Megaship, Jason and Melinda resolved from the teleport beam. "I understand why you turned off your communicator," Alvin said before cheers rang out on the Bridge from the other Rangers. "Congratulations, you two," Roxanne said.

"Thanks, Roxanne," Jason said before turning to Number 5, situated at the Helm console. "Number 5, set course for New York City. We have a concert to go to."

As the Megaship turned away from CBS Television City, Alvin turned to Brittany. "There is a new song I think we should add to our set-an engagement present for Jason and Melinda," he said.

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

FIVE DAYS LATER

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Madison Square Garden and the first stop on the Chipmunk Adventure 20th Anniversary World Tour, presented by Paramount Home Entertainment and XBOX 360," the announcer said. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, here they are: The Chipmunks and The Chipettes!"

Jeanette, Eleanor, Simon and Theodore took their instruments, while Alvin and Brittany went to the microphones set up at center stage. "How ya doin', New York?!" Alvin said. The audience cheered.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you're gonna get a special added attraction later in the show," Brittany said. "We're gonna debut a brand-new song from our upcoming SFM Records release Beyond the Mystic right here tonight, but that's gonna be later."

After they performed "Diamond Dolls," Brittany walked up to her microphone as Alvin handed sheets of music to Simon, Theodore, Jeanette and Eleanor. "It's now time, ladies and gents, for us to debut our brand-new single. It'll be on our next SFM Records CD, Beyond the Mystic, due in stores September 7th. We wrote it-Alvin and I-earlier today in honor of the engagement of two of our close, personal friends. For the future Mister and Missus Jason Kennedy Archer, here is our new single, 'Come and Follow Me.'"

Jason and Melinda smiled, then kissed, as the new song began. And so too, did the next big adventure for everyone involved in the tour.

Next time, the Chipmunk Tour Saga jets to Middleton, Colorado, home of Kim Possible

The adventure continues in

The Chipmunk Tour Saga, Book II:

"Sitch and Sensibility"