CH.7: Once a Rescue Ranger, always a Rescue Ranger
Chip knew he was running out of time, any second that machine would blow up not only getting rid of their brilliant enemy…but also the love of his life. Criminals deserved to be tried for their crimes and taken in by the law abiding officers of the city, not blown to bits by crazed hares and a team with no principles; only what mattered to them, and that didn't account for a lot at the end of the day. If ever there was a time for his strategies, now was the time.
"Ray…I know you may think this is a good idea, but, trust me it isn't. As leaders we are supposed to look out for our team, ensure they live-."
"Hey…who put you in charge-?" Dale glared but realized he couldn't move lest the hare make a rather loud display of their team's method.
"I am the self-appointed team leader of the Rescue Rangers, while never really discussed; it kind of was the mold for how things went. Look Ray, if you blow up Nimnul you will be a criminal, if you blow us up you are still a criminal-."
"Doesn't leave me without much of a criminal title now does it?" Ray grinned and heard the snickers from his team. "Tell you what, since you are so concerned for Gadget's safety, go up and try and save her. I will allow it."
"Well thanks…but what about Nimnul?" Chip didn't know what angle he was playing, but, freeing Gadget was his main priority.
"Oh don't worry, Damien will hold off on the dynamite till everything is settled." Ray stepped aside giving Chip room to move.
Chip walked past him and as he climbed up the machine he stood face to face with Gadget. "Hi, um, looks like you got yourself tied up."
"Help me Chip…I don't have much time. The machine is wired, set to explode any moment. Damien won't need to let lose any of his dynamite because we'll be blown to kingdom come. Oh and I see what you did there, cause I'm all tied up in the wires and can't move-."
"It was a joke Gadget, never mind, lets see what I can do." Chip tried freeing her foot but then was shoved at Gadget roughly from behind. Suddenly the wires were bound around them and as Chip looked behind him he saw Ray.
"Now you are both tied up…and you both can stay and watch the fireworks. I was intending on just getting rid of Nimnul and Gadget, but now with the leader of the Rescue Rangers in this trap it makes it that much sweeter."
"Hey that's not fair!" Dale made a move but saw the hare had already lit the dynamite.
"Not so fast dummy…I intend on blowing up your friends, but I have plenty of dynamite if you want to join them after." The hare smiled a toothy smile as he held up the dynamite and listened to it crackle.
"Now you've gone too far mate!" Monterey pulled up his sleeves and as he saw Damien ready to throw the dynamite he halted, but only enough so he could let a good wallop land on his chin.
"Oof!" Damien went flying back and the dynamite went flying right on top of Nimnul's machine.
"Oh no, this is not good, my villainy can't end here. Nooooo…I am the great Professor Nimnul, terror of the city and mastermind of the greatest heist ever. All the electricity was to be mine…mine I tell you!" Nimnul began pushing buttons as he became frantic.
"Ugh…I can't move…" Gadget tried to free herself but every movement drew her closer to Chip and she was fighting the urge to look him in the eyes. She had never been this close to him before, and there were things she was beginning to take notice that she should've. Her father had practically raised her as a boy, so, things like noticing boys was never part of the way her brain worked.
"We need to get that dynamite…" Monterey said, his fist sore from knocking the hare on his tail end.
"Hmm…I think I know who to help us." Dale hurried off and found Foxglove nearby. She seemed forlorn and he sighed. "Hey Foxglove…why so down?'
"Oh hi Dale, it is just…nevermind." Foxglove looked off and as she looked again she found Dale much closer then before.
"Oh c'mon Foxglove…you can tell me anything. We are friends after all?" Dale tried his best to remain cheerful, even if that dynamite was working on his nerves.
"Dale…I…I…oh darn it all." Foxglove wrapped a wing around his head and pulled him in for a long kiss. Her eyes closed as her heart raced and her mind whirled in pure bliss. Only as she pulled back did she give herself a moment to breathe and collect herself.
Dale was stunned by the kiss, his usual hyper stride was shut down as he tried to work through what was happening. The kiss just happened…and a part of him liked it. However another part of him wondered how Gadget would react. When the kiss ended he had a stupor on his face like he was knocked on the head by a nut.
"I'm sorry…I just…I thought…oh no," Foxglove felt stupid now for having done that. She thought there was something there, maybe she was wrong.
"Wait…you just took me by surprise…I'm sure I'll be ready next time. However it will have to wait, right now Gadget and Chip are in danger. You have to help my friends, please; no one else can do it."
"Dynamite…that is how the other mechanic was offed, and that is the preferred method to get rid of your friends now. The fuse is probably half way gone now, and there is no telling how much more dynamite Damien has on him."
"I'll take care of the dynamite…you take care of the dynamite as well, but, the one by my friends." Dale appreciated this and knew he should be more grateful and show how he felt, but, he still had feelings for Gadget he couldn't get rid of.
"When I get back…let me know your decision. I am probably going to be leaving after this, seems no place will keep me long. I love you Dale…but…if you don't feel the same…" Foxglove left it at that as she took flight, her tears lost in the wind.
"Monterey…keep the hare busy," Dale yelled as he hurried off.
"Right o mate, now, lets see if you can keep up with ole Monterey." Monty squared off with the hare then received a kick that sent him flying into the Ranger plane. "That is going to leave a mark…"
"Not so tough are you fatso?" The hare smirked as he bounced on the soles of his feet.
Chip struggled against the wires but received a tiny shock and cringed. "Blast, these wires are bound so tight any movement sends a spark through us."
"Chip…I don't want to die," Gadget sniffed, "there is still so much I have yet to invent, to fix. I have made so many mistakes; so many wrongful stuff I wish I could take back-."
"Gadget, we aren't going to die." Chip read her confused face and he looked her straight in her blue eyes. The moment he had been playing in his head had finally arrived. "Gadget, we have been a team for a while now, in that time, I'd say we've been closer then the rest of the team. Dale and I have been competing for your affection and it seemed like like, but, turns out my feelings for you were more then that, sincere even."
"Chip…what are you trying to say?" Gadget was confused, it was hard to read into Chip's words without drawing conclusions she thought impossible. The variables just didn't add up to it and she was kind of lost in the peril of their situation, given the fuse was now closer then ever to the dynamite.
"Gadget…I-I…well…I love…Foxglove?" Chip looked over seeing Foxglove land near them and she picked up the dynamite and stuck out her tongue. "Sorry Chip, you aren't my type." She then flew off.
"Wait…you love Foxglove? Ohh, I see, now it makes perfect sense. Well…I know Dale will be disappointed but if you love her that much you should-."
Chip wanted to slap himself over that error. With Foxglove taking the dynamite it gave them a little more time to figure this out. However he needed to tell her how he truly felt, but words were just getting the way, among other things. Looking down he watched as Dale began dragging the dynamite away, but Ray was right behind him. Monty was fighting Damien, and then there was Jonsie who was taking the Danger flyer in the air in pursuit of Foxglove.
"Hold it chipmunk…think before you do anything rash." Ray held out a needle as he looked at Dale with fire in his eyes.
"Oh trust me…I have thought it over…and it is rash." Dale lit the dynamite and pushed it down into the water.
"Wrong move!" Ray tackled Dale and the two went over the side and onto the pile of dynamite.
"Come back here batty!" Jonsie held onto the controls as he chased after Foxglove.
Foxglove yipped at the sight of Jonsie in pursuit…but also from the dynamite as it was too close to igniting. She struggled to not let it go, as it would likely hurt all those innocent people down below. Spotting Dale and Ray fighting she wanted to stop them…seeing the dynamite was set to explode with them on it. Seeing Jonsie she felt the claw of the vehicle hold onto her and she struggled.
"You have to let me go…this thing will blow us both up!" Foxglove looked at him in panic but saw the turtle refusing to let her go.
"No way…we are going to take that dynamite back…we will see this mission accomplished." He began to turn the vehicle around and that is when it happened.
Dale and Ray were fighting and as they both looked up a huge explosion happened in the sky. "No, Foxglove…no!"
Monty and Damien were locked in combat when the explosion hit, their fists halted as they looked up.
Chip leaned in kissing Gadget on the lips, his emotions never more certain then now. The kiss was a tad rushed but it felt right.
Gadget pulled away and looked on in horror at the scene above. However she left Chip shaken, though she hadn't noticed. That is when she heard Nimnul's voice. "Uh oh…" Gadget saw fire starting up all around them and her throat became constricted. This really was the end.
Authors note: Wow, a lot happened in this chapter and by the end a lot of characters were placed in harms way. What happened to Foxglove and Jonsie? How will Dale get out of his situation with Ray on lit Dynamite? And what of Gadget and Chip strapped to a time bomb of Nimnul's latest failure? What of the kiss? More coming shortly so don't touch that channel.
