Galaxy Rangers: "Time Bomb"
Chapter 8
The Rangers climbed out of Daisy's golden Interceptor, while
Daisy gazed out over the bleak desert landscape with a pair of
binoculars. They had landed in an empty canyon, well away from the
outskirts of Tortuna. It would be a long way to the only major city
on the outlaw planet, but if it kept them hidden from the eyes of
the Crown, a long walk would be worth it.
Buzzwang took a few experimental steps, testing his balance. "I
seem to have regained some mobility, although my balance is still not
100%. But I believe I will no longer need Eve's assistance."
"Good," Eve put in. "You're one heavy bucket of bolts..." She
then grinned at the android. "But I'm staying close by just in case."
"That would be for the best," Buzzwang agreed. "I will be better
able to protect you if we are attacked."
"We've got company," Goose growled.
"You've got good eyes, Shane," Daisy commented, lowering her
binoculars, as a cloud of dust appeared near the end of the canyon.
It sped towards them, but the Irish outlaw didn't seem worried.
"That's just me friend comin'," she said, "don't worry."
Within moments, a small cart had pulled up next to them. A purple
alien with antennae sat in the driver's seat, while a yellowish fellow
with big ears and a trunk sat next to him. Gooseman started as he
recognized the passenger.
"Geezy?"
"I thought it might be you Ranger hummings, when Afgar told me
hummings were coming to Tortuna. Only Ranger hummings are foolish
enough to come here."
"I'm no Ranger, an' I come here," Daisy said. "What's this guy
doin' here, Afgar?"
"I went to him for the stuff you wanted, and he insisted on
coming along. He's okay, I often go to him for stuff that I can't
find."
"Your reputation preceeds you, Geezy," Goose said.
"I hope not," Geezy protested, making a trumpeting sound through
his trunk. "I'm not here, remember?"
Goose chuckled, but the purple alien had climbed off of the
wagon, and was opening up the back. He tossed some robes and body
armor to the Rangers. Goose laughed again. "Zanquils?"
"They look a little like humans, so we can pass fer 'em," Daisy
answered. "Can ye think of anything better, Ranger?"
"Not at all," Goose said, putting on the armor. "It just so
happens that WE use Zanquil garb, when we come here..."
"I figgered ye might," Daisy said.
* * * * *
"Zozo, you and Buzz scout out the back," Goose said. They were
standing in front of a bar near the edge of the spaceport dome. The
Kiwi nodded, and pulled his hat down over his long ears, vanishing
into the alley with his two allies. Zozo had grabbed the hat just to
avoid unwanted attention, but it was his human friends who needed to
hide under the full costume of Zanquil traders.
As Goose and Daisy made their way into the bar, however, a figure
in the shadows spotted them, despite their disguises. He slid off of
his barstool and glanced back at them, and Goose recognized Kilbane's
sneer under the dark hood he was wearing. The renegade Supertrooper
took off in a run, headed off down a passageway leading into the back
rooms of the establishment.
Ryker was grinning wickedly, as Goose burst into the room, Daisy
right behind him. "You shouldn't have come, runt. Now I've got you
right where I want you." He was holding a small device in his hand,
and as Goose came at him, he pressed a button on it.
Goose suddenly cried out in pain, putting his hands to his head,
as his badge erupted with light. Ryker laughed maniacally, as his old
enemy staggered backwards. Daisy's blaster was in her hand in a second,
but Goose was already collapsing to the ground. The sound from Goose's
badge had become an ear-splitting shriek, and his head was wrapped in
a nimbus of overloaded power.
Before Daisy could even fire her weapon, though, the device in
Kilbane's hand suddenly spit out a shower of sparks, and smoke began
to pour from it. Kilbane shook the device, slapping it against his
palm, but it was unmistakeably dead. The whine from Goose's badge
returned to its normal, musical tone, and the soft, yellow light
played across his face and up to his temples. Breathing hard, Goose
got back to his feet.
"Damn!" Throwing the device aside, Kilbane leaped at Goose.
"I'm bringin' you in, Kilbane!" Goose snarled, as the Supertrooper
locked hands with him. The two men struggled for a long moment, while
Daisy watched, her blaster at the ready. As Goose started to get the
upper hand, however, Kilbane's hands suddenly changed their texture,
becoming metallic and ridged. Shane gritted his teeth as electricity
began to arc between them.
With a loud, enthusiastic yell, Zozo charged into the room. He
threw himself at Kilbane, knocking him away from Gooseman, and the
discharge of electricity sent all three of them reeling. The two
Supertroopers struggled back to their feet, however, and glared at
each other.
Gooseman put a hand to his badge, but there was only a faint,
fading sound, as the badge's glow went dead. Goose tried again, but
his implant was clearly exhausted. Kilbane smirked and took a step
forwards, but then staggered back, as if he were about to pass out.
He glanced over at Daisy, sizing her up, as the outlaw leveled her
blaster at him.
"See ya, runt," Kilbane sneered. He suddenly turned and leaped
out the window, shattering the glass. The renegade Supertrooper landed
sprawled out in the alley, a loud snap echoing off the brick walls as
his leg twisted underneath him. Ryker staggered back to his feet, a
glare of yellow light playing across his leg as his power healed it.
Swaying slightly, Kilbane looked around. In the doorway to the
inn, further up the alley, he spotted Buzzwang. The android shoved
Eve behind him, to protect her, then clenched his fists, as he waited
for the Supertrooper's attack.
Instead, Kilbane held up a computer disk. He then brought up
his other hand, showing Buzzwang that electricity still arced across
it. "Make one move, Galaxy Ranger, and I'll wipe this disk... and
you'll NEVER find out the secret about your friends' implants!" As
Buzzwang drew back, cautiously, Kilbane turned to run.
Before Kilbane could take two steps, however, a cloaked figure
stepped into the alley, blocking his escape. It was a tall, robed
figure, dressed all in white, its face shrouded in blackness -- a
Slaverlord.
Half a dozen Crown Agents in their bright red armor came up
behind their overseer, as Kilbane stared at the Slaverlord. He looked
uncharacteristically stunned by the unexpected appearance. As he stood,
his mouth agape, the Queen's beautiful, yet harsh face appeared in
the robed being's cowl.
"You fool!" The Queen's voice said, imperiously. "I told you not
to make a copy of the disk, and you disobeyed me! And now, you have as
much as given its secret away to the Galaxy Rangers! Your bungling has
put my entire plan at risk! If that disk falls into the hands of the
Rangers, Ryker Kilbane, I will see you in my Psychocrypt!"
The robed figure pointed at Kilbane. "Guards, take him... and
destroy that disk!"
Kilbane moved quickly, seizing his one chance to save his skin.
Throwing the disk high in the air, he darted forward, ducking between
the Crown Troops as they scrambled to catch the disk. Leaping at the
Slaverlord, Kilbane reached into its chest, pulling its crystal free,
and the being shimmered and faded away. Kilbane tossed the crystal in
another direction as he made his escape, disappearing into the crowds
that filled the streets of Tortuna.
Buzzwang turned his attention from the fleeing Supertrooper to
the Crown Agents and the disk. In their hurry to grab it, the soldiers
had only gotten in each others way, and the disk had bounced out of
their hands, and into a pile of garbage in the corner. A couple of them
were digging through the rubbish, though, and it wouldn't be long before
they found it. Kilbane's words had confirmed the android's suspicions,
and he knew he had to recover that disk.
Before he could move, however, Eve grabbed his shoulder. "Ranger
Buzzwang!" she yelled, apparently frightened. Buzz looked up in the
direction she was pointing, to see Gooseman and Daisy O'Mega plummeting
towards them, from the window above.
As they fell, however, Daisy triggered a switch on her belt, and
her boot jets fired. Goose opened fire on the troopers with his free
hand, his other arm around Daisy, as she slowed their descent. As the
Ranger and his unorthodox ally landed, firing wildly into the Crown
Troops, Buzzwang saw his chance.
Sprinting forward to the pile of rubbish, Buzzwang modulated his
vocal circuits, perfectly mimicing the sound of a Crown Agent's rasping
electronic voice. "I'll get the disk, Commander," he said, noting that
the Agent's armor was that of a leader unit. "You should make sure the
Rangers don't get our Queen's crystal."
As he expected, the Agent didn't even look up at him. "Yes. Good
thinking, soldier," the commander said, turning to open fire on the
Rangers. Buzz quickly grabbed the disk, which he'd been careful to
watch as it flew across the alley, and then ran back the way he came.
He only got a few steps, however, before one of the circuits in
his leg blew out, pushed beyond its limits by his rerouting of power.
He staggered a few more steps, then tumbled to the ground. Rolling,
to keep his momentum going as he fell, the android scrambled the rest
of the way down the alley on his hands and knees.
"The disk!" The commander had figured out that he'd been tricked.
"Get that Ranger!" Daisy and Goose dropped behind a bunch of trashcans,
and provided the android with cover fire, as Eve darted out of the
shadows of the doorway. The teenager grabbed Buzz by the arms as he
reached her, and the two of them somehow managed to get back to the
shelter of the building without being shot.
"Ranger Gooseman!" Buzz called out, as the Crown Agents blasted
chunks out of the wall beside him. "We seem to be pinned down!"
"Tell me about it!" Gooseman's voice replied. There was a moment
of silence, broken only by the shrill sound of laser fire, and then
Zozo called out from the window above them.
"Incoming!" He yelled. There was a short pause, and then a
massive explosion shook the alley. The laser fire stopped.
"What was that?" Gooseman yelled, somewhat stunned.
"Grenade!" Zozo replied. "Kilbane had about three of them!"
"Three... ?" Gooseman's question was interrupted as another loud
explosion rocked the alleyway. Suddenly the Crown Troops were gone,
scattered in all directions.
There was a moment of silence. Then Zozo's voice drifted down
from above, a bit quieter this time. "Actually, there were only the
two. But I figure, what they don't know..."
Chapter 8
The Rangers climbed out of Daisy's golden Interceptor, while
Daisy gazed out over the bleak desert landscape with a pair of
binoculars. They had landed in an empty canyon, well away from the
outskirts of Tortuna. It would be a long way to the only major city
on the outlaw planet, but if it kept them hidden from the eyes of
the Crown, a long walk would be worth it.
Buzzwang took a few experimental steps, testing his balance. "I
seem to have regained some mobility, although my balance is still not
100%. But I believe I will no longer need Eve's assistance."
"Good," Eve put in. "You're one heavy bucket of bolts..." She
then grinned at the android. "But I'm staying close by just in case."
"That would be for the best," Buzzwang agreed. "I will be better
able to protect you if we are attacked."
"We've got company," Goose growled.
"You've got good eyes, Shane," Daisy commented, lowering her
binoculars, as a cloud of dust appeared near the end of the canyon.
It sped towards them, but the Irish outlaw didn't seem worried.
"That's just me friend comin'," she said, "don't worry."
Within moments, a small cart had pulled up next to them. A purple
alien with antennae sat in the driver's seat, while a yellowish fellow
with big ears and a trunk sat next to him. Gooseman started as he
recognized the passenger.
"Geezy?"
"I thought it might be you Ranger hummings, when Afgar told me
hummings were coming to Tortuna. Only Ranger hummings are foolish
enough to come here."
"I'm no Ranger, an' I come here," Daisy said. "What's this guy
doin' here, Afgar?"
"I went to him for the stuff you wanted, and he insisted on
coming along. He's okay, I often go to him for stuff that I can't
find."
"Your reputation preceeds you, Geezy," Goose said.
"I hope not," Geezy protested, making a trumpeting sound through
his trunk. "I'm not here, remember?"
Goose chuckled, but the purple alien had climbed off of the
wagon, and was opening up the back. He tossed some robes and body
armor to the Rangers. Goose laughed again. "Zanquils?"
"They look a little like humans, so we can pass fer 'em," Daisy
answered. "Can ye think of anything better, Ranger?"
"Not at all," Goose said, putting on the armor. "It just so
happens that WE use Zanquil garb, when we come here..."
"I figgered ye might," Daisy said.
* * * * *
"Zozo, you and Buzz scout out the back," Goose said. They were
standing in front of a bar near the edge of the spaceport dome. The
Kiwi nodded, and pulled his hat down over his long ears, vanishing
into the alley with his two allies. Zozo had grabbed the hat just to
avoid unwanted attention, but it was his human friends who needed to
hide under the full costume of Zanquil traders.
As Goose and Daisy made their way into the bar, however, a figure
in the shadows spotted them, despite their disguises. He slid off of
his barstool and glanced back at them, and Goose recognized Kilbane's
sneer under the dark hood he was wearing. The renegade Supertrooper
took off in a run, headed off down a passageway leading into the back
rooms of the establishment.
Ryker was grinning wickedly, as Goose burst into the room, Daisy
right behind him. "You shouldn't have come, runt. Now I've got you
right where I want you." He was holding a small device in his hand,
and as Goose came at him, he pressed a button on it.
Goose suddenly cried out in pain, putting his hands to his head,
as his badge erupted with light. Ryker laughed maniacally, as his old
enemy staggered backwards. Daisy's blaster was in her hand in a second,
but Goose was already collapsing to the ground. The sound from Goose's
badge had become an ear-splitting shriek, and his head was wrapped in
a nimbus of overloaded power.
Before Daisy could even fire her weapon, though, the device in
Kilbane's hand suddenly spit out a shower of sparks, and smoke began
to pour from it. Kilbane shook the device, slapping it against his
palm, but it was unmistakeably dead. The whine from Goose's badge
returned to its normal, musical tone, and the soft, yellow light
played across his face and up to his temples. Breathing hard, Goose
got back to his feet.
"Damn!" Throwing the device aside, Kilbane leaped at Goose.
"I'm bringin' you in, Kilbane!" Goose snarled, as the Supertrooper
locked hands with him. The two men struggled for a long moment, while
Daisy watched, her blaster at the ready. As Goose started to get the
upper hand, however, Kilbane's hands suddenly changed their texture,
becoming metallic and ridged. Shane gritted his teeth as electricity
began to arc between them.
With a loud, enthusiastic yell, Zozo charged into the room. He
threw himself at Kilbane, knocking him away from Gooseman, and the
discharge of electricity sent all three of them reeling. The two
Supertroopers struggled back to their feet, however, and glared at
each other.
Gooseman put a hand to his badge, but there was only a faint,
fading sound, as the badge's glow went dead. Goose tried again, but
his implant was clearly exhausted. Kilbane smirked and took a step
forwards, but then staggered back, as if he were about to pass out.
He glanced over at Daisy, sizing her up, as the outlaw leveled her
blaster at him.
"See ya, runt," Kilbane sneered. He suddenly turned and leaped
out the window, shattering the glass. The renegade Supertrooper landed
sprawled out in the alley, a loud snap echoing off the brick walls as
his leg twisted underneath him. Ryker staggered back to his feet, a
glare of yellow light playing across his leg as his power healed it.
Swaying slightly, Kilbane looked around. In the doorway to the
inn, further up the alley, he spotted Buzzwang. The android shoved
Eve behind him, to protect her, then clenched his fists, as he waited
for the Supertrooper's attack.
Instead, Kilbane held up a computer disk. He then brought up
his other hand, showing Buzzwang that electricity still arced across
it. "Make one move, Galaxy Ranger, and I'll wipe this disk... and
you'll NEVER find out the secret about your friends' implants!" As
Buzzwang drew back, cautiously, Kilbane turned to run.
Before Kilbane could take two steps, however, a cloaked figure
stepped into the alley, blocking his escape. It was a tall, robed
figure, dressed all in white, its face shrouded in blackness -- a
Slaverlord.
Half a dozen Crown Agents in their bright red armor came up
behind their overseer, as Kilbane stared at the Slaverlord. He looked
uncharacteristically stunned by the unexpected appearance. As he stood,
his mouth agape, the Queen's beautiful, yet harsh face appeared in
the robed being's cowl.
"You fool!" The Queen's voice said, imperiously. "I told you not
to make a copy of the disk, and you disobeyed me! And now, you have as
much as given its secret away to the Galaxy Rangers! Your bungling has
put my entire plan at risk! If that disk falls into the hands of the
Rangers, Ryker Kilbane, I will see you in my Psychocrypt!"
The robed figure pointed at Kilbane. "Guards, take him... and
destroy that disk!"
Kilbane moved quickly, seizing his one chance to save his skin.
Throwing the disk high in the air, he darted forward, ducking between
the Crown Troops as they scrambled to catch the disk. Leaping at the
Slaverlord, Kilbane reached into its chest, pulling its crystal free,
and the being shimmered and faded away. Kilbane tossed the crystal in
another direction as he made his escape, disappearing into the crowds
that filled the streets of Tortuna.
Buzzwang turned his attention from the fleeing Supertrooper to
the Crown Agents and the disk. In their hurry to grab it, the soldiers
had only gotten in each others way, and the disk had bounced out of
their hands, and into a pile of garbage in the corner. A couple of them
were digging through the rubbish, though, and it wouldn't be long before
they found it. Kilbane's words had confirmed the android's suspicions,
and he knew he had to recover that disk.
Before he could move, however, Eve grabbed his shoulder. "Ranger
Buzzwang!" she yelled, apparently frightened. Buzz looked up in the
direction she was pointing, to see Gooseman and Daisy O'Mega plummeting
towards them, from the window above.
As they fell, however, Daisy triggered a switch on her belt, and
her boot jets fired. Goose opened fire on the troopers with his free
hand, his other arm around Daisy, as she slowed their descent. As the
Ranger and his unorthodox ally landed, firing wildly into the Crown
Troops, Buzzwang saw his chance.
Sprinting forward to the pile of rubbish, Buzzwang modulated his
vocal circuits, perfectly mimicing the sound of a Crown Agent's rasping
electronic voice. "I'll get the disk, Commander," he said, noting that
the Agent's armor was that of a leader unit. "You should make sure the
Rangers don't get our Queen's crystal."
As he expected, the Agent didn't even look up at him. "Yes. Good
thinking, soldier," the commander said, turning to open fire on the
Rangers. Buzz quickly grabbed the disk, which he'd been careful to
watch as it flew across the alley, and then ran back the way he came.
He only got a few steps, however, before one of the circuits in
his leg blew out, pushed beyond its limits by his rerouting of power.
He staggered a few more steps, then tumbled to the ground. Rolling,
to keep his momentum going as he fell, the android scrambled the rest
of the way down the alley on his hands and knees.
"The disk!" The commander had figured out that he'd been tricked.
"Get that Ranger!" Daisy and Goose dropped behind a bunch of trashcans,
and provided the android with cover fire, as Eve darted out of the
shadows of the doorway. The teenager grabbed Buzz by the arms as he
reached her, and the two of them somehow managed to get back to the
shelter of the building without being shot.
"Ranger Gooseman!" Buzz called out, as the Crown Agents blasted
chunks out of the wall beside him. "We seem to be pinned down!"
"Tell me about it!" Gooseman's voice replied. There was a moment
of silence, broken only by the shrill sound of laser fire, and then
Zozo called out from the window above them.
"Incoming!" He yelled. There was a short pause, and then a
massive explosion shook the alley. The laser fire stopped.
"What was that?" Gooseman yelled, somewhat stunned.
"Grenade!" Zozo replied. "Kilbane had about three of them!"
"Three... ?" Gooseman's question was interrupted as another loud
explosion rocked the alleyway. Suddenly the Crown Troops were gone,
scattered in all directions.
There was a moment of silence. Then Zozo's voice drifted down
from above, a bit quieter this time. "Actually, there were only the
two. But I figure, what they don't know..."