Chapter IV: The Abbey

The last leg of the trip, the weather had turned stormy. Chip and Dale had pulled the Rangerwing's canopy up and fastened it down, effectively enclosing the plane.

"Well," Tammy said a little way into the storm, "everything seems to still be working okay. I guess Gadget didn't forget anything this time!"

About that moment, a sizzling, sparking sound was heard, and a flash of light popped at the back of the plane. Tammy consulted the gauges.

"Except…maybe…to waterproof the battery compartment," she groaned.

"How bad is the short?" Chip asked.

Tammy squinted in the dim light, checking several readouts.

"Pretty bad. We've got enough juice in the alternators for about another thirty minutes, and that's tops." She glanced into the back seat, where the team's head technician was dozing.

"This really makes me wish I hadn't knocked her out."

"Oh well, hindsight's twenty-twenty, Tammy."
He hit the radio and contacted the Rangerplane.

"Monty, this is Chip. We've had a short back here, and we've only got about thirty minutes of power left. How far is it now?"

Monterey Jack, who had flown ahead to lead them through the storm, radioed back after a moment.

"It's gonna be close, Chippah. We've got about anothah twenty-five minutes of flyin' to do, accordin' to th' Abbess here."

Chip signed off. He put his hand on Tammy's shoulder.

"Okay kid, here's the time to show us how good a pilot you are."

Tammy just nodded. She reached into the plane's dashboard compartment, pulled out Gadget's spare goggles, and strapped them on. The determined look on the younger Ranger's face informed Chip that he had made a good decision, bringing her into the team.

Exactly twenty minutes later, the control panels and lighting inside the Rangerwing began to flicker and dim.

"Guess I wasn't conservative enough with that estimate," Tammy said grimly.

Then, she had a sudden inspiration.

"Chip, did Gadget reload with rechargeable batteries?"

"Yes, she always does."
Tammy grinned.

"Then I have an idea. It's a wild idea, but she always says those are the best ones!"

She turned in her seat.

"Chip, go back there and rewire the radio antenna to the interior battery terminal. Then gather up Gadget and scoot as far away from it as possible."

"Tammmmy," Chip said, a warning note in his voice, "what are you doing!"

"You're just going to have to trust me, Chipper."

A moment later, Chip returned to the front.

"Okay, that's done."
"Then get Gadget and hang on."

As soon as they were secured, Tammy hit the throttle, throwing the 'Wing's last remaining power into a fierce climb, that took them up into one of the storm clouds. The engines began to splutter, and she fought to keep control for a few seconds longer…

KA-BOOM!

Lightning flashed, and struck the radio antenna dead center. Electricity channeled down it, and through the glowing, sparking battery terminal. The gauges and lights brightened to full intensity, and Tammy pulled the throttle back, bringing the plane down from the cloud and into a level flight, directly behind the Rangerplane.

Coughing, Chip waved a cloud of acrid smelling electrical smoke away from his face.

"Are you nuts!" he yelled.

"It worked, didn't it?" Tammy responded coolly.

Chip looked around.

"Yeah, it worked all right. Except we won't be able to recharge these batteries when they run dry." He pointed to the melted, burned out recharge terminals.

"Oh…well, Gadget can come up with something," the young squirrel said, although her voice carried a note of worry.

Chip's expression softened, and he patted her on the arm.

"Sorry Tammy, didn't mean to stress out on you. That was some quick thinking, by the way. Gadget'll be proud."

"You really think so?"

"Darn right."
Both of them whirled in their seats. Gadget stretched, wincing as a pain lanced through her ribs. She yawned, and then sat up.

"I was about half-awake for that whole episode. I just didn't say anything, 'cause I wanted to see how Tammy would handle it. Great idea, by the way!"

Tammy was puzzled.

"But I put a sedative onto that aspirin that should have kept you out until after we touched down!"
Gadget grinned.

"Please. You're going to have to mix up something better than that to keep a Hackwrench out. I've been hit by flying spare parts that kept me out longer than that!"

Chip chuckled, and jerked his thumb towards Gadget.

"Tough girl, that one," he said to Tammy.

"You said it, brother. Remind me to snag a bottle of Demerol the next time we visit a human hospital."

Gadget had to laugh inwardly at the banter. Whenever they went on a trip, if Chip and Tammy could get past the young squirrel's standard flirting, then they got along very well.

'Just not too well, I hope,' she thought, and then shook her head.

'I don't believe it. I'm getting jealous again.'

She leaned up, and propped her elbows on the back of Chip's seat.

"How long 'till we land?"

"About five minutes. Better hold on though, I don't know how good Tammy's landings are."

Tammy pulled Chip's fedora from his head, and started hitting him with it.

"Owch, oh, oh all right! Cut it out, sorry!"

Gadget sat back into her seat, laughing.

"Oh please, guys, gasp, cut it out, it hurts too much to laugh!"

Moments later, with the Abbess's coordinates, a large, red sandstone structure came into view.

"Wow," Chip said, impressed. "So that's Redwall Abbey."

"Yep," Tammy replied. "I gotta admit, it is impressive."

"Over twenty-five hundred years old," Gadget said in awe. "Think of the engineering it must have taken to build it!"

"That would be the first thing you'd notice," Chip said playfully.

She curled her arms around him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Well what can I say? I always admire a work of art…whether it's architecture, or chipmunks."

Chip made a decision, then and there. As soon as this affair was done with, he was going to have a serious question to ask Gadget Hackwrench.

Tammy throttled back, and brought the Rangerwing into a low approach. Switching the engines to hover, she brought it down in the middle of the main Abbey lawn, with the Rangerplane just seconds behind, it's more primitive landing gear finally finding purchase a few feet ahead.

"I've been thinking," Gadget said to Chip as they climbed out, "maybe I should retire the Rangerplane and build another Rangerwing. It'd sure be more efficient."

"Yeah, but it just wouldn't have the same…character," he said. "After all, the Rangerplane was the first invention you built for us."

"Too roight," Monterey said as he walked up. "She may be a blinkin' grizzly to fly, but she's saved our tails more times than I care to count!"

"Still, I need to do something with the landing gear," Gadget mused. "Those cog and sprocket plungers are so hard to maintain."

"Yeah, but remember when you modified 'em to be plunger cannons?" Dale laughed. "Wowie zowie, that was cool!"

"Wow," she said, "nobody ever really called my inventions cool before. I just thought they were necessary!"

"Some things can be cool and necessary at the same time," a fierce looking otter said, climbing up onto the Abbey's makeshift landing pad.

"I'm Skipper, chief of the otters in this neck of the woods. Welcome to Redwall!"

"Thank you, sir," Gadget said, meekly. Skipper was an amiable sort, but standing before him, she felt as if she should have practiced curtsying before leaving home.

"Come, come!" he boomed. "We can't have the Abbey Champion being afraid of 'ol Skip! My bark's worse than my bite, trust me."

"I'll believe that when I see it," she muttered quietly. He winked.

"Then yer a good judge 'o character, marm."

Chip looked around the massive walls, taking in the whole scene. From a pocket inside his jacket, he pulled a paperback Sureluck Jones novel.

"The Mystery in the Red Abbey," he read in wonder. "So, Howard Bask knew a lot more about the animal world than he let on!"

"Oh, you mean that human chap that found the Abbey 'bout a century back?" A large hare commented as he sidled up. "Oh yes, he saw it. Didn't believe what he was seein', but apparently it gave him some ideas, wot?"

"Yes, apparently so." Chip snapped himself back to reality. "Sorry about that. I'm Chip, Chip Maplewood."

"Basil Stag Hare the Fifth, at your service, sah!" the long eared creature saluted smartly. "Named for me ancestor, that was an abbeydweller 'bout a millenium back."

"Glad to meet you, Basil." Chip glanced over his shoulder, watching as Skipper pointed out to Gadget the historic properties of the Abbey. Basil watched his gaze, knowingly.

"Your girl, there?"

"Yes sir, just these past couple of days."
"Quite a beauty, eh wot? Sight better looking than old Martin, her ancestor. But still, you should see these modern mousemaids cooing and fawning over the picture of the old boy on the Abbey tapestry. Warrior supreme he was, but I've seen better looking toads, wot."

Chip snickered.

"A tad jealous, Basil?"

A look of indignation crossed the hare's face.

"Jealous? Basil Stag Hare the Fifth? I say, bad form, sah! The epitome of propriety is what I am, wot wot!"

"Riggghhht," Chip said, trying to hide a grin. His expression brightened even more when Gadget walked up.

"This place is incredible, Chip! I—oh, hello, Mr. Rabbit, I was so excited I didn't see you standing there."
"Hare, madam, not rabbit. Hare. It's a bally groundless mistake, people've been making it for years."
"Oh, I beg your pardon, I didn't know."
Inwardly, Chip had to wonder how such genius and such absent-mindedness resided together in such harmony in Gadget's head.

"So," Basil continued, "you're the new Abbey Champion, wot? Well, I always say it's quality and not size that makes a leader."

"Now what's that supposed to mean?" Chip asked, with a hint of a dangerous undertone. Gadget took him by the arm.

"Now Chip, you remember what happened at Louie's. You and I are just getting on the mend from that one."

"Getting on the mend?" Basil inquired quizzically. Then he noticed the fading black eye Gadget sported.

"My word, dear lady! Wherever did you go to receive a right old shiner like that!"

"Refueling station. Chip here had to eject an…overzealous would be suitor. But the guy took it out on both of us."

"So I can see! I hope you received no further damage at the blackguard's hands?"

"Aside from a few cracks in the ribcage…"
Basil was working himself into a lather.

"I say, I would like to have taken a few chops at the old thing, wot! Imagine, doing this to a lovely lady such as yourself."

"This lovely lady's quite the spitfire when she gets going," Chip teased, linking his arm through Gadget's. "I wanted to cheer when she broke a chair leg over that rat."

"Broke a…I say, good show! Perhaps the Abbess's faith has not been misplaced!"

Chip determined that Basil simply had a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Basil," he said, "but I think we're wanted by the Abbess over there."
The aforementioned lady was waving for their attention.
"Ah well, parting is such sweet sorrow, and all that drivel, wot! Adieu, until we next meet!"

As they walked arm in arm toward the small group awaiting them, Gadget took a look back at the sprightly hare.

"I wonder if he's like that all the time"

"Let's hope not."

Abbess Brantalis was waiting with a group of friars, of mixed ages. She extended her hand to Gadget.

"Come, child. It is time."

"Time?"
"Time for you to receive the Warrior's weapon."

Gadget gulped. "Can--can Chip come with me?"

"Well, it is usually a private ceremony, with only the Champion and the Abbey clergy present…but yes. I can see that his presence will steady you."

'More than she knows' Gadget thought.

They entered through a set of large, oaken doors, into a great hall. Both Chip and Gadget gasped at the beauty and enormity of it. At the end of the hall, behind a raised platform, hung the famous tapestry. The image of Martin the Warrior looked down from it, seeming to give his approval over the proceedings. But hanging next to the tapestry was the object that had so filled Gadget's dreams when she was a child. The Abbess lifted it down from the pegs it sat on, and turned the hilt toward the younger mouse.

"The Sword of Martin, Defender of all Redwall, and Knight to the first Queen of Mousedom."

A hush fell over those assembled at the words. Gadget reached out, and with something akin to reverence, took the sword by the hilt. Electricity seemed to race up her arm. She took the sword, and turned it point down, kneeling as she grasped it by the handle.

"I am Gabriella Mariel Hackwrench, daughter of Geegaw Matthias Hackwrench, come to fulfill the duty of Martin's kindred," she said, not knowing where the words were coming from.

"I acknowledge your service," the Abbess said, "and name thee Gabriella of Redwall. Arise, Champion of Mousedom!"

Gadget rose to her feet, holding the sword aloft in a triumphant manner.

"Amazing," Chip muttered. "It's almost as if her eyes are burning."

"Aye," an old friar said, "old Martin's gaze 'twould freeze vermin in their tracks, so legends say."

"What else do these legends say."
"Well, they say that Martin's kin can never be defeated in defense of the Abbey and Mousedom, because his determination to protect them was so strong, he literally willed his knowledge and strength to become part of the sword!"

Chip could only stare in wonder. Still the same Gadget, but she appeared more confident, more sure of herself. Chip feared that she might have…changed, somehow. But then, she turned the same loving expression on him that he had started getting used to over the past several days, and his fears were dispelled. As the group dissipated, he walked over to where Gadget was, and touched her arm. She was shaking!

"All you all right, Gadge? What's wrong?"
She leaned the sword against the wall, and then fell into his arms.

"I'm scared, Chip. Theres something about that sword…when I hold it, it makes me feel…"

"Powerful?"

She nodded.

"I don't know if I can handle it, Chip. They expect me to engineer this great victory, when I'm scared to touch Martin's own weapon!"

He touched her face, and raised it up level with his own.
"Did you ever think, sweetheart, that you might not need it to engineer a victory? From what you've told us of Martin, maybe he's just supplied you with it to give you courage!"

She began to smile a bit.

"That's my girl, enough with the long face."

Her smile brightened, and turned to one partly of embarrassment.

"Did you just call me 'sweetheart'?

Chip grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry, I didn't know if you went in for pet names and such. I've just been so crazy about you for so long, it kind of slipped out."
"No, don't apologize! It's just that, nobody's called me that since Daddy used to. It's something new." She snuggled against his jacket. "But I definitely like it."

"I'm glad. And boy, am I learning some things!"
"Like what?"
"I never knew what your real name was!"

She laughed.

"Well, Gadget came early, because I loved to tinker so much. After mom died, nobody really remembered my real name except Dad and me. So Gadget it was, and Gadget it's stayed."

"Well, no matter what they call you here, you'll always be Gadget to me."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"What's wrong?"

"How did you know?" she asked. "That's the first thing I can remember Daddy ever saying."

"Just lucky I guess." He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dried her eyes. "You and I are going to have to have a long talk sometime, so I'll know what to avoid saying and not make you cry all the time!"

"Oh, Chip, it's just that everything's been turned on it's ear with this. I can't wait to get back to Ranger Headquarters and start trailing Fat Cat again, odd as that may sound."

"I can sympathize. At this point, I wouldn't even mind standing in your workshop and hearing you say 'no problems'!"

"Now you're stretching it," she said, coyly. She kissed him lightly, and then stood from the bench where they had sat down.

"Come on, let's get back to the others, before Tammy starts a rumor festival. And Chip? Thanks for cheering me up."
"That's what I'm here for. One of the reasons, anyway."

"One of the reasons?"
"The other one being that I love you."

"Golly Chip, I never knew you could be 'this' sappy!"

"Isn't it great?"

"Darn right it is," she giggled. While Gadget had led a tomboyish life, there was a very romantic minded girl inside her that had found the opportunity to finally get out.

"What took you two so long?" Dale asked. "The ceremony guys came out ages ago!"

"Oh nothing," Chip said mysteriously. "We were just having a little chat, that's all."
"Wow, you two're really getting serious, aren't you?"

"Dale, if you want an honest answer…then yes. Sorry to disappoint you, but things are looking very serious indeed."
"Aw, it's ok, Chipper. I was kinda thinkin' of asking Foxglove out when we get home, anyway."
"No kidding?"

"Nope, no kiddin'. I've been thinkin' about it for a while now. She's a pretty great girl. She even likes comics!"

"See? I told you there's somebody out there with the same interests you have. And she's been right under your nose."

"That might be why I didn't see her," Dale joked, indicating his large, red nose. Chip laughed.

"No hard feelings, partner?"
"None. Let's just help Gadget clear this mess up so we can go home."

"Amen."

At that moment, a loud, trumpeting sound filled the air.

"An alarm!" Chip shouted. "Come on, Dale!"

"Vermin at the gates!" a sentry yelled. Skipper and a group of other Abbeydwellers spilled out of the main buildings, dashing to the battlements. Gadget was close behind. She'd thrown Martin's sword and it's scabbard across her back on a strap she'd found in the Rangerwing. She jumped the last couple of steps, hardly feeling the binding around her ribs, and landed next to Skipper.

"Golly!"

A band of well armed, rough looking rats and weasels stood before the Abbey gates.
"Open up!" one yelled. "We wanna little word wid yer Abbess. Namely 'er surrender!"

"You want something?" Skipper yelled, twirling a sling around his head until it hummed. "Then take this!"

He let fly, and the small stone knocked the offending rat off of his feet.

"Yoowwww! You'll pay for that, rodents! We'll be back with our full force, and we'll…"

"You'll what?" a cold, authoritative voice called from the walls. The rat captain was unnerved, and looked up. Gadget stood out on the wall, holding Martin's sword point down as she leaned on it. The sight of the blade immediately unnerved the vermin party.

"Th' Abbey Warrior! Oi thought it wuz jist a legend!"

Their leader rounded on them, staring them down fiercely.

"It's just a woman, dolts! Are you gonna stan' there an' tell me yer afraid of a woman!"

"Begone, scum!" Gadget's voice rang like steel. " I am Gabriella, Champion of Redwall and Mousedom! Take this message to your leader. Approach this abbey at your own peril!"

"That duz it fer me, messmates! I'm gone!" the enemy party broke and ran, their captain berating them all the way out of sight.

On the wall, Gadget sat down, trembling. All of Redwall's enemies couldn't be dispatched that easily.

"Bonza speech, Gadget luv!" Monterey Jack said, climbing the steps. "Was that the blinkin' sword talkin' or you?"

"That one was me, Monty. Sounded impressive, didn't it?" she said nervously.

"Too roight, but it sounds like it took a lot outta ya, luv."

"It did. I'm used to just working on equipment behind the scenes. Now I have to face down things like that!"

"Pull y'self togethah, me girl! Look at ya, wot would your old Dad think?"

Gadget looked down, shamefully.
"He'd have said that I let my fear take control of my faculties. Thanks Monterey. I'll try and do better with it." She pulled Martin's sword from it's scabbard. "Interesting. This blade is over two thousand years old…but theres not a scratch on it!"
"Theres a reason for that," a tall, handsome squirrel replied, sitting down next to her. "Martin's blade is very special."
"So it would seem, from everyone's reaction around here."
"It's not so much the sword itself, but the memory of what the old warrior did with it. He freed this whole country from slavery under a wildcat lord. No easy task."
"I wouldn't think so! What's your name?"
"Reguba, son of Reguba. All of the great fighters of my family down through history have born the name, even before Martin's time."

"Wow, and I thought Abbey traditions were ancient. You were going to tell me what accounted for the sword's condition?"
Reguba gestured for Monterey Jack, Chip and Dale, who had arrived moments earlier, to have a seat.
"Quite simply put, Gabriella…"
"That name's just for show. Call me Gadget."

"Well, Gadget, quite simply put, the metal in Martin's blade didn't come from this planet."
"What!" the exclamation came from the entire group.
"Aye. The hilt is older than legend itself, and belonged to the Warrior's father. But the blade was forged in the armory of the Badger Lord of Salamandastron, from a lump of metal that was taken from a fallen star."

"A fallen star. Golly! That would account for it. It must be made of some type of space-born titanium!"

"It could be," Reguba continued. "I'm not a student of science myself. But it's said that no steel ever forged has been able to even scratch the blade."

"Well, lets hope nothing tries to scratch it anytime soon," Gadget said worriedly.