Authors note: This is it, the final chapter. I imagine you thought there'd be more, but, just an assumption on my end. Anyway if you have ever played a video game with alternate endings this is how this story will play out. Chapter nine has two parts to it, the first part will conclude this story, so for those content with that one this will be it, however another part to chapter nine opens new doors, as a reader it is your choice to determine which ending best suits you. Read as you like, who knows, you could surprise yourself.
CHAPTER 9-1
It had been a few weeks since that horrific day when the team was dealt a tragic blow. Dale had taken over the Rescue Rangers with a stout heart, full of determination and unwavering loyalty to his friend to see the Rescue Rangers kept up operation. His usual slack off mannerisms were fixed, to a point, and with his foot now fully recovered he was back on field duty, his piloting even had become stuff of legends as he took to the Ranger wing like a lost glove that still fitted. Times were tough on Dale, what with the lack of abuse he usually got for screwing up from Chip, and he would knock himself on the head or dig into himself to keep his head straight.
Of course with the newest addition to the Rescue Ranger line up Dale had some moral support. Foxglove had left the Danger Squad after the mission was over and Nimnul was safely taken away to an Insane Asylum where he would tinker away at his sanity. She was a great addition to the team for she showed a knack for undercover work and taking to the skies for clues. She could go places the Rangers could not and she was a welcome presence in Dale's life. The two had officially came out as dating and were the first in the group to actually share their love openly. Foxglove of course had to keep a handle on her romantic moments, hardly containing her joy from kissing Dale like crazy over missions accomplished or just as a hello in the morning.
Monterey Jack's nose didn't really fully recover from the accident and his famous 'cheese attacks' were a thing of the past. His health at times teetered and his lack of enthusiasm for missions wasn't quite the same as it once was. He still had Zipper, who was now out of a body cast, so he wasn't too depressed. A part of him was figuring he was getting too old for the game and possibly thinking of retiring, though never said it aloud. Times were changing and without his nose for cheese, he was beginning to lose weight, now while healthy of course it also made him moody. Hardly anyone could approach him and pretty soon he just stayed at Rescue headquarters relaying info when needed.
Gadget on the other hand was far worse off than Monterey. She kept to her workshop fixing what was needed or going over schematics for new inventions. She always kept Chip's hat close to heart and while she had many suitors for her heart, none could ever get close enough without being sent to the sky by Gadget's rejection device. Still, a part of her knew that being a recluse would not help her friends in a bind and so she took on Foxglove as an apprentice so she could fix the Ranger plane or wing should ever it be needed. Foxglove was a good moral support to the Rangers in their time of need and in the days to come she would prove herself a true Ranger.
It was a Tuesday morning when the Rangers got a distress call from one of their friends. Dale and Foxglove were sent scrambling for the Ranger wing with the famous 'Rescue Rangers away' first coined by the late Chip. Monterey Jack held little enthusiasm, still as he walked out the door he bore a far more muscular physique and even Zipper looked faster as he zipped about in excitement about his friend's head. Yes, it would seem things had indeed patched up.
While Gadget had held out hope that Chip had survived, she knew no one could have survived that explosion. It was time to move on with her life, no point in dawdling holding out for his return, walking through that door burnt but very much alive. Fastening the hat around her ears she could almost see him everywhere she walked in the headquarters. A flitting smile passed over her features remembering their moments, wishing she had picked up on them sooner. However her scatterbrained problem she had inherited from her father made her miss out on Chip's feelings, and in the end she was left with regret over indecision and lack of foresight.
"This place won't be the same without you Chip, but, our friends need me and I can't wait for you forever. Your loss is heavy and still on our minds, still, if we don't move forward, golly, your memory will just be wasted and you could become a ghost, not that I believe in such things, tried to prove it with science…oh you get what I mean. What I am trying to say, what I haven't been able to say this entire time is, I will always love you Chip, and this is goodbye."
Gadget then moved to the door and with a tear rolling down her cheek she took off his hat and left it behind. There was a special place she had built just for the hat, a memento of their friend and dearly departed. Chip would always be a part of this place, no denying that, but holding onto the past was unhealthy. Walking out the door she closed it behind her and saw Dale talking animated like to Foxglove who hung onto his every word. Monterey seemed in better shape and mood as he told a tale of his while Zipper chimed in with his take. Her friends looked her way and waved at her.
"Alright Dale…take us out." Gadget hopped into the seat next to Monterey and as they took off she smiled as the new day wind greeted them. The future never looked brighter.
THE END
