Chapter 11: The Rangers And The Danger
After a while, Rebecca came through the door, ready for the ball, in what looked like her usual dress. She had not found a tailor who could salvage its parts from the balloon which carried the Spruce Moose and reconstruct it, but the store she had bought it at had more than one of them, so she had bought a new one. Money was definitely one of her lesser problems.
Chip and Dale were amazed about that sight. They looked at Rebecca in that dress, then turned their views to Gadget and imagined her wearing it. Even she was able to recognize that from the boys' expressions.
"No. Never. Not in your wildest dreams, you two."
"Gadget," Chip said, "this dress would look absolutely incredible on you. You'd take anyone's breath away." Then again, she already took anyone's breath away in her usual lavender overalls and goggles. It actually didn't matter at all what she wore. But this dress on her would be a near-lethal dose of beauty.
"Come on. You know that bad things happen whenever I'm wearing a dress."
Dale had the perfect reply. "And you knew ten minutes ago that bad things happen whenever we go babysitting."
"Maybe it's not dresses in general," Chip supposed, "but that particular red dress you always wear as a disguise. Or that blond wig. I mean, why do you even wear that thing, you are blond."
"Yeah," Dale proposed her, "you could wear one of my dresses next time. And I could borrow you my red wig."
Rebecca had an idea, and, unusually for a woman, no problem with another woman wearing the same dress as her. "Gadget, would you like to go shopping with me tomorrow? I believe that store had this dress in your size."
Before Gadget could answer, the door opened again, and Baloo came out. He really had managed to get into his tuxedo.
This time it was Rebecca's turn to be amazed. "Baloo, I'm proud of you. You can even breathe without the buttons flying off."
"Yes, and there's still enough space in here for a dinner."
"Well, certainly not for what you consider a dinner, Baloo." Rebecca snickered.
"I promise you I'll keep my dinner in normal dimensions tonight, Becky."
"And?"
"I'll try my best to behave well."
"That's what I wanted to hear. Now to you, Rescue Rangers. Bring Molly to my apartment. It's built up there around the waterfall, you can't miss it." Rebecca gave Chip the keys. "And take good care of Molly. Bring her to bed at seven, no matter what she says. When you're hungry, there's a snack bar down the street, I can recommend it, it's open 24/7. I don't know when we'll be back, but the ball won't end before midnight, and then we'll still have to fly all the way back here. Any questions before we leave?"
"Yes, what about our payment for the cargo job?"
"The payment, right, I've almost forgotten that."
She disappeared into the office, came back with a filled envelope some seconds later and put it into Chip's hands.
"That was it, thanks. And no further questions," Chip answered briefly after counting the money.
"Alright, we'll leave for Nader's Hall now," Rebecca announced.
"And we'll care for your daughter from now on," Chip promised. "Have a nice time at the ball!"
Dale added, "Yeah, have a ball at the ball!"
Monty wondered, "I always thought that's what balls are there fer anyway."
Gadget remarked, "I don't like balls. They expect us women to wear dresses there. Uh, talking about women, where's Danger Woman?"
Monty picked Molly up to carry her on his arm. "Here she is, Gadget luv."
"Why are you carrying me?" Molly protested.
"'Cause ya should save yer powers 'til ya really need 'em, Danger Woman," Monty explained. He knew how to deal with heroes. After all, he was one himself.
"A wise decision from you, my faithful adviser," Molly replied in her best Danger Woman manner. "By the way, Danger Woman likes to know the names of her new fellows who call themselves the Rescue Rangers."
"So, Danger Woman, as yer adviser fer tanight, I 'ave the 'onor t' introduce the Rescue Rangers ta ya. See the chipmunk in the fedora 'at an' the aviator jacket?" Monty knew it was a good idea to avoid the term "bomber jacket". "It's Chip, our leader. 'e's the one who decides everything, 'e comes up with most plans, 'e keeps the Rescue Rangers tagether, an' 'e's a skilled detective."
"Thank you, Monty!"
"Yer welcome, Chip lad. Now ta the chipmunk in the red shirt." Again, he didn't say "Hawaiian shirt" for a reason. "This is Dale. 'e an' Chip 'ave been friends ferever or so, at least fer a long, long time. When it's gonna get random, crazy, or even insane, it's Dale's task. Surprise attacks are 'is game, fer example. An' 'e's our actor. 'e can play 'bout every role 'e wants, from an opera singer over a secret agent up ta some female roles. Even Chip 'as learned one or two things from 'im."
"Aw, c'mon, Monty, you're all good actors", Dale admitted.
"I think we've all learned from ya. At least, y've inspired us. Now back t' introducin'. The blond mouse in the overalls, that's Gadget, the only woman in our team. She's both more beautiful an' more intelligent than the rest of us altogether." Gadget smiled and blushed after Monty said that. "She's not only a mechanic like Wildcat, she's a real inventor. An' she's a pilot. Well, she's taught Chip an' Dale how ta fly, an' I've learned it from 'er father, but she's still our main pilot, also 'cause she builds our planes an' other vehicles herself."
"That's true, Danger Woman," Gadget lied a bit, "I don't rely on vehicles I can buy. I prefer them specialized." In fact, there was a bit of truth in her words.
"An' now ta meself", Monty went on. "Me name's Monterey Jack, but friends call me Monty. I'm from far away, an' I've been all 'round the world in my life. 'Cept Thembria, p'raps. I'm the adventurer an' the muscle mouse o' the team."
"Can you prove that's muscles?" Chip asked and grinned.
"Shall I, right 'ere an' now? Y'want me ta?"
"No, no, I believe you. You know, Danger Woman, Monty uses his, er, muscles before he uses anything else."
"An' I'm proud of it, jes' ta let ya know! So, last but not least me ol' friend Zipper. 'e's small, 'e's light, 'e's fast an' nimble, an' 'e's the only Ranger who doesn't need a plane ta fly as 'e's got 'is own set o' wings. What I admire most 'bout 'im is that 'e attacks opponents, no matter 'ow big they are. 'e's so small an' fast that 'e's hard ta hit an' even harder ta catch. An' 'e can put away quite much fer someone of 'is size."
"Yes," Molly said, "I know that being small can sometimes be good."