Chapter II: Time and Again

The rest of that day was a talkative one at Ranger HQ. Everyone had questions for Sprocket, questions about themselves and the Rangers of his time, which at first he was reluctant to answer. However, Gadget came to his rescue.

"If the timeline's being tampered with, Sprocket, then as soon as you set it right, we'll forget you were here anyway. So you don't have to be as tight-lipped as you think."

He thought a minute, and grinned.

"Golly, you're right Gadget. Thanks, I was almost forgetting my temporal quadratic equations there for a minute."

"No problem. Oh and Sprocket, listen. If it…makes you more comfortable, or makes you feel any better to call me Mom, then go ahead. I don't mind."

He brightened.

"Thanks, Gad—Mom. It was pretty weird, looking straight at you and feeling like a stranger."

He looked around the tree in curiosity.

"This is before the big remodel back…or ahead, in nineteen ninety seven. I never saw things this way."
"Well, its home, and it serves it's purpose," she replied. Taking a set of keys from a peg on the wall, Gadget headed for the door.

"Come on. I need to go to the market, much as I dread that, and a local packrat is holding some parts for me. An extra set of eyes like yours might pick up some hint of what Nimnul is doing. We'll take the Rangerbolt."

"You mean the old Charger? Gosh, it'll be good to ride in it again. I thought Uncle Dale would never forgive me after I totaled it back in…"

He trailed off, seeing his mother's expression.

"Well, maybe it's best I don't go into that right now."

"That'd be my advice."

They took a small circular stairwell down into the bowels of the tree. Normally, Gadget would have simply jumped into the rubberized chute that led down from the living quarters, but her condition prevented any such acrobatics for the time being.

"Wow," Sprocket breathed as they stepped into the large garage area. The Rangerbolt had just undergone a thorough testing and restoration, painstakingly completed after the Rangers' last case, in which the car had been badly damaged. Gadget chuckled, remembering that day. She'd nearly strangled Sparky, when she saw the ruined front fenders and the sagging bumper.

"Assuming we get out of this business with Nimnul alive," she said, "the Rangerbolt's slated to compete in the local animal auto races in a few weeks. Maybe you'll get to stay around and see it."
"Maybe. But I think, if it's all the same to you Mom, I'll be getting back home as soon as I can. I mean this is home, but…you know what I mean."
"I think so. You miss your life."
"Yeah. But you know what I miss the most?"
"What?"
"You."

Gadget was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"
Sprocket sighed.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put it that way. I mean…the you that can just look at me and tell what I'm thinking. The you that cleaned all my scraped knees and busted elbows. The you that helped me with my science projects. It's just…I don't know."

Gadget put her hand on the boy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Sprocket. I know it's hard. But, regardless of the time…it's still me. I'm still the same Gadget Hackwrench that raised you, just a bit more spry is all. We'll get through this. Your father made you a promise that we would, and I'm making it too. Now, chin up. Let's ride."

"Thanks, Mom."

Chip stood at the front window, watching as the sleek black car roared away from the tree. He shook his head.

"What am I supposed to do? That boy expects me to be able to restore what he's lost…and I'm not even sure how to fight the enemy he's bringing to our doorstep. Our Nimnul is bad enough. But a future Nimnul, with all that experience? I just don't know, Dale."

"Aw, come on, Chipper! Buck up! We'll think of somethin', we always do! That's why we're the Rescue Rangers, remember?"

"True enough. True enough! Thanks, partner. You and Zipper see anything strange out in the city this afternoon?"

"No more'n usual. Nothin' like what you'd expect outta Nimnul, if that's whatcha mean."

"Sprocket said that his Nimnul wouldn't arrive for a week. But that means that our Nimnul is going to be up to something in the meantime. We've got to find out what it is and be ready."

"Oi'm with ya on that one, Chippah," Monty said as he walked in. "But 'ow can we find out wot Nimnul's gonna be up to, without 'im makin' some move t'let us know?"
"Good point….wait! Sprocket said that his Rangerwing had a micro-computer on board. Maybe when he and Gadget get back, we can salvage it. That would give us access to our future counterparts' case files."

"Sounds like a plan t'me. Where did those two get off to, anyway?"

"Gadget had to go pick up some groceries and some parts, and Sprocket rode along. I'm glad, too. I don't feel comfortable with her out by herself, at this stage."

"Relax, pally," Monty chuckled. "Gadget's an independent sort. Y'knew that when you married 'er. When that eighth month turns over, oi'm sure she'll be 'appy to stay home by the hearth for a while."

"I hope so. I've been meaning to ask Sprocket if it'll be a boy or a girl."

"Chip, oi know that we'll forget all this when the lad leaves, but…are y'sure you want to know, even for that length o' time?"

Chip was silent for a moment, considering what his friend was saying.

"You know, Monty, you're awful wise for such a young mouse."
"Oi don't know about young, but oi've been 'round a bit in my time."

"Speaking of your rounds, you never did tell us what happened on your trip to Zanzibar."

Monterey shifted around nervously, looking out the window.

"Well…that's a tale for anothah day, mate. Ain't them clouds beautiful?"

Chip sighed. Why could his friend be so garrulous one minute, and close up like a clam the next?

"The old Second Street market," Sprocket marveled. "They tore this down when I was ten."

"That's a shame. They keep the best produce on this side of the city."

"I know, you used to come here to get the oranges for Aunt Tammy whenever I needed cough medicine."

Gadget sighed happily.

"It's good to know the Rangers' lives will be so full. Me, a decorated mechanical scientist and mother of three. Who'd have guessed?"

"Mother of five, actually. Leah and April weren't with us on the last mission, Dad said they were still too young. Then there's Basil, Mariel, and me. Mariel could pass for your twin sister."
Gadget shuddered a little.
"I already have one of those, and it hasn't been a great experience."
"Oh, you mean Aunt Lawainie?"

"You actually call her that?"
"Just to annoy her when we're hunting her down. She's still a terror even in my time."

"I can imagine. She nearly killed me a month or so before Christmas."

"Oh yeah, the infamous 'Fogie' incident. I read about that in the case files."

"Do we keep everything in case files, in this future?"
"Just about. So many of our villains are repeat offenders, it helps with recognizing their MO."

Gadget pushed her small, handmade cart down the aisle, running through her analytical mind everything that was needed back at headquarters. She was about to reach over to the bottom shelf to grab a peanut, when she felt a fluttering sensation in her side. She leaned back against the cart.

"Mom? Are you all right?"
"What? Oh, sure, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy, that's all."
Sprocket looked at her for a second, and then slapped a hand to his forehead.

"Oh for crying out…I forgot, Mariel was born early! What's today?"

"Umm…the twenty-second."

"Uh-oh."

"Sprocket, uh-oh is the last thing I need to hear right now."

"Sorry, just a reaction. You've got three days, if I remember right."
"Three days—you mean your sister'll be coming almost in the middle of this fight with Nimnul!"

"That's about the size of it. Looks like you'll be sitting this one out."

"Terrific. The biggest case in the career of the Rangers, and I'll be stuck in the nursery."

Sprocket grinned, putting his arm around his mother.

"Hey, look at it this way, Mom. After you get over the ordeal, you'll have a few days to yourself to just work on invention ideas!"

Gadget's expression brightened, and her eyes looked thoughtful.

"You know, it would be a good time to work on those update designs for the Rangerwing…"

"That's the spirit! Now come on, Dad and Uncle Monty'll wonder if we're not back soon."

After another few minutes, Gadget managed to finish her shopping with a minimum of fuss, and she and Sprocket proceeded toward the parking lot, sheltered in the shadow of several walking humans. Upon reaching the car, he popped the trunk, relieving her of the burdened cart and loading the contents into the Rangerbolt. Gadget walked around to the driver's side, and sat down.

"Well, well, what've we got here, eh boys?"

Looking up, she froze.

"Sugar Ray Lizard," she said contemptuously.

"Th' one and only, baby! I believe you know my associates," the hench-lizard said, indicating his dark crew.

"Oh, indeed I do. Pardon me if I don't get up, it's a little tiresome these days."

"So I can see! Guess the rumors th' boss heard were right, you marryin' that chipmunk and all."

"If its any of his business, yes, they're true."
"You know, sweetness, ya really upset the boss when ya wouldn't be his moll. Rat Capone don't take no for an answer kindly. We's supposed to make you'se see things his way…"

One of the rats behind him pulled out a large, shining knife. Gadget trembled a bit inwardly, but didn't let them see it. She was about to spout off another remark, when a voice as cold as winter washed over her ears.

"Back off, scum."

Sugar Ray looked up in surprise. Sprocket stood at the rear of the car, fists clenched, eyes burning and dangerous.

"Geez, boys, I didn't know they made humans that small, did you'se? What's yer business here, kid?"

"I believe you know, you sorry reject from a fossil pit. The lady's with me."

"Oho, she's with you'se, huh? And just what're you plannin' to do about stoppin' us, hmm?"
Sprocket smiled, and the lizard flinched involuntarily at his mirthless expression. The boy stepped forward, and cracked his knuckles loudly. It was only then that Gadget noticed how well toned and muscular his body actually was. His smile turned into a toothy snarl.

"The way I see it," he said, "we can do this one of two ways. Simple equation. First solution: you gutter trash get out of here, while you can still walk upright. Second solution: you keep troubling my mother, and I use your bones for drum sticks."

"Yer mother? But how?"
"I didn't tell you to ask questions, reptile. Option one, or two. Which is it?"

Sugar Ray whipped his tail around with a crack, and grinned.

"I think we'll take option two, and work it over a little bit. Like we're gonna do on you! Get 'im, boys!"

"Mom, roll up the windows and lock yourself in!" Sprocket yelled. As the rats came in, he went into a defensive posture.

Gadget did as she was told, and watched in fascination. Sprocket stood his ground, swinging rats left and right like toys as they approached him. A right hook here, a jab there, a tumble somewhere else. One rat was disappointed in his efforts and lost his front teeth.

"Geez, you'se mugs! Cantcha do nothin' right? Let a pro show ya how it's done!"

Sugar Ray leaped over the fallen henchmen, and faced off with Sprocket. His tail cracked like a whip, snapping dangerously close to the boy's face.

"Let's see how tough you'se really are."

"With pleasure. You'll make a nice saddlebag for the Rangermobile…"
Sprocket was caught in his posturing as the lizard's tail cracked against his head, knocking him off his feet. Getting his bearings, he looked up. Sugar Ray was grinning insidiously, waving his tail around in a dodging manner.

"Not so brave now, huh smart guy?"

"As brave as I need to be!" Sprocket yelled, grabbing Sugar Ray's tail. With a mighty heave and a move learned from Monterey Jack, he leaped to his feet and began turning in a circle, swinging his adversary around and around like a top.

"Hey, hey cut it out, I'm getting dizzy!" the mob lackey yelled.

"Your wish is my command, slimeball," Sprocket grunted. With one last effort, he turned loose of Sugar Ray, who went flying through the air to collide with a parked human shopping cart.

"Steeeerike!" the boy grinned, dusting off his hands. He turned back to the car, and sagged a bit, his adrenaline wearing off. Gadget opened her door and climbed out.

"Sprocket! Are you all right?"
"I will be," he said, with a weak smile. He felt along the side of his head, where several cuts and bruises resided. "At least, I should be."
"Come on, lets get home, and get you cleaned up. Where'd you learn to fight like that? I mean, golly, it was like watching Monterey Jack!"
"Where do you think I learned?"

"You men!" Tammy said in disgust as she examined her patient once again. "Honestly, I'd expect this from Monty or Chip, but Gadget raised you! You should know better, young man."

"Young man? Sorry Aunt Tammy, but that one's not gonna fly here. You're only about two years older than I am in this time."

"Well, I'm saying it for my older self too. Hold still."

She applied a piece of antiseptic soaked cotton to a cut on his forehead.

"Ouch! Easy, that stings!"
"That means it's working, now pipe down!"

Monterey, Chip and Gadget all tried to hold their laughter at the antics of the two.

"Too rah loo," Monty said in admiration. "The little bloke took 'em all on? Oi must've taught 'im pretty good, then!"

"I was lucky he was there," Gadget said. "I…ohhh."

She buckled against Chip slightly.

"Gadge? Are you okay?"
"I think I better lie down. Sprocket told me that our first child comes early."

"Oh wonderful. Come on, I'll walk you to our room. Then I've got to get the team out and see if we can figure what Nimnul's scheme is."

Across town, in a large, dome-shaped building, a sinister cackle penetrated throughout the facility. A small man was seated at a large computer console, working eagerly with small wrenches and screwdrivers.

"With this new device, the whole city will bow before my demands, forced to do my every bidding! Ha!"

Norton Nimnul looked up at his invention with pride.

"My freeze ray will have everything in town stopping cold in his tracks. Get it, cold? Haha!"

Continuing to talk to himself, Nimnul flew back to his work at the control panel, fitting in chips and wiring, and various other small parts. His latest work was diabolical. The ultra-cold laser was not built to burn, as were most. Rather, it was powered by diamonds kept at absolute zero, producing a ray that froze anything it touched within solid ice.

"They think nuclear winter scares them? Wait'll they get a taste, of Nimnul winter! Ha, haha!"