Chapter V: Countryside Calamity

"You're absolutely sure it was Sugar Ray, Gadget?" Chip asked.

"Dead sure. That's a face you don't forget very easily."

"It's one that I'd like to forget, after seeing it," Tammy shivered.

Chip considered the new development.

"Well, this does change things somewhat. It looks like there may be a bigger player behind this game than we originally thought."

"It isn't Capone, apparently," Gadget mentioned. "Sugar Ray said his new boss was 'nowhere near as understanding as Capone'…so I don't know what caliber of bad guy we're dealing with. We need to be careful from here on in. Very careful."

"Too roight," Monty said. "This lizard may not be th' sharpest cookie around, but you blokes remembah the last time we went up against Capone. 'E was dangerous, wot with that tail an' all."

"So what's the game plan, Chip?" Sparky asked.

"Okay, here it is. Gadget and Tammy will compete in the cross-country race tomorrow, as planned. While all the drivers are occupied with that, we'll be setting up a little trap here for our unknown assailants. I'd like to bring in the local law enforcement on this, if possible."
"Um, Chip, would that mean him?"
Dale pointed to the other side of the track. A small vehicle sat there, with an obvious electric motor mounted at it's rear, and a gold star on one of the side panels. Leaning against it was a tall, lanky mouse, dressed casually in an older style sheriff's uniform.

"Hmm…if one didn't know better, you would think he was watching us," Reguba said, curiously. Gadget remembered something, and spoke up.

"Rob said something about the local sheriff…and from the looks of him, I don't know if we can trust him or not."

"But it's the cops," Tammy said, puzzled. "Why can't we?"
"Tam, don't be naïve. Corruption reaches many places. And if my hunch is right, this guy's probably about as corrupt as they come. Come on, let's finish up the Rangerbolt and get ready for bed."

Across the way, Sheriff Beauford Oakwater watched the group with keen interest. A country bumpkin he might be, but he knew this bunch was up to something. Reaching for his radio, he called in.

"Hey boss, you got yer ears on, come on?"

"Beauford, how many times do I got to tell you, never call me after eight! I'm getting ready for my beauty rest."
"Don't see how he does that, he's a whole mess 'a ugly," Beauford muttered. He didn't dare say that over the radio, but he sure could think it. Jefferson O'Walnut was just about the meanest, dirtiest, and ugliest groundhog that anybody in the tri-county area knew of. And that made him perfect to run the local underworld, as well as the local county. And, the local sheriff. Really, there wasn't anything rotten and bad in this part of the country that he didn't run. The only honest member of his party was Sheriff Oakwater's deputy, Enoch Redbark. He was a constant galling factor to the criminals' plans, but had to be kept on, because he knew too much to be let go. Sometimes, he just didn't realize that he knew it.

"Uh, Jeff, I was callin' in to letcha know, them two girls won the first race today fer Team Moss. They's gonna be runnin' in the cross country tomorra."

"What! This is terrible! Now listen up, you nuthead. You make double sure that them two don't get to the startin' line tomorrow, understand? Cause if they do, you're gonna be…"
"Out of a job," Beauford said.
"Out of a job." O'Walnut repeated. "Now get goin'!"

Back at his base of operations, O'Walnut hung his radio microphone back on it's stand, and turned to his partner, who was sitting on the other side of the room.

"Jefferson, you said you'd have this taken care of," the oily voice commented, a slightly dangerous hint coming into it.

"Well…it's bein' took care of, right now! My sheriff's out there, and he'll get to those two. Just you watch!"

"For your sake, I hope so. I've got big plans for that racetrack. Very big plans."
"Just how big we talkin'?"
"Big enough that I'll tell you when I get good and ready."

The rat leaned forward, a gleam in his beady eyes.

"My…associate, tells me that he believes he knows one of them. They'll need close watching, no matter what happens."
"Well, a'course! We'll keep a tail on 'em, don't you worry yourself a bit, Fran--"
The rat's fist slammed down on the table he was sitting at.
"I told you to never use my name! It's just my…policy."

"Oh…sure, sure! I'll be careful about that, I never like dissapointin' a business partner!"
Outside, just beyond the door, Deputy Redbark had heard everything that transpired. He knew that he worked for a corrupt system, but on his own, there was nothing he could do about it. However, there was something he could do about this.
"Gotta warn them two ladies," he whispered, and slipped out into the night.

With a few twists of her wrench, Gadget's final adjustments to the Rangerbolt were complete. She'd beefed up every part of the undercarriage upon which it was possible to do so, installed heavy-duty suspension springs, reinforced the axles, the whole enchilada.

"Well, Tam, it looks like we've gone about as far as we can go with this. Come on, let's go get some sleep. It's gonna be a long day tomorrow."

" 'Scuse me, ladies."

"Yahhhhhh!" Tammy shrieked, leaping into the air as a tall, well built mouse seemed to materialize from nowhere behind her."

"Uhh, howdy," Gadget said, recognizing the newcomer as local law enforcement. "Ya'll lookin' for somethin' deputy?"

"Naw ma'am, just you two. Ya'll got to be careful on that track tomorrow! Sheriff's got somethin' powerful mean planned against you'uns."

Tammy eyed him suspiciously.

"And why are you tellin' us, then?"
Redbark hung his head.

"I may hafta work for 'em, but the Sheriff and Mr. O'Walnut don't always do such nice things. So I help people out where I can. I'm hopin' to go up New York way one day, and be a crimefighter like my heroes."
"And who're they?" Gadget asked.

The shy lawmouse removed a folded newspaper clipping from his breast pocket. It was from a well-known small animal publication in the metro area of the city.

"Rescue Rangers," she read. "Hmm. Well, you got big aspirations, mister. Hope ya can make it."

"I'm tryin', a little at a time. Ya'll need me tomorrow, gimme a yell on th' radio. I'll help if I can."

As he left, Tammy and Gadget stared after him for a while.

"Well, it looks like somebody's getting uptight about us winning," the young squirrel Ranger observed.

"Quite. It's a good thing that I installed a few…surprises, like Chip said. Come on."

Pressing a control under the Rangerbolt's fender, she then turned off the lights in the shed, and headed for the Rangers' campsite.

Late that night, while the entire compound slept, a shadowy figure slipped across the track, headed for the pit area. Only the faintest glint of light could be seen, reflecting off the Sheriff's badge, as he crept into the shed where the Rangerbolt resided.

"Well now, let's just see what we got here," he chuckled, reaching for the hood release.

WHOOP!WHOOP!WHOOP!WHOOP!

An alarm sounded that pierced the sleep of everyone nearby. Falling over tools and other implements, Oakwater stumbled outside, leaping over into a ditch to avoid discovery.

"This wasn't in my job description," he groaned, brushing dirt from his uniform as he slunk off into the woods.

Back at the track, lights flashed on, illuminating the numerous tents and box trailers that served as shelters.

"Wot'n blue thunder's goin' on?" Monterey asked, half asleep as he tumbled out of his sleeping bag.

"That's the alarm on the Rangerbolt!" Gadget yelled. "Come on!"

She broke into a run, with Tammy diving after her. As they threw open the doors to the small garage, they saw that the lights had been left on inside.

"Somebody was in a great hurry," Chip commented, walking in behind them. "What's this?"

Lying on the floor were a small pair of wire clippers, and a packet of sugar.

"If they couldn't get us one way, they'd try another," Gadget fumed. "This is getting annoying."

"Now, now, Gadget luv, keep your steam under control," Monty admonished. "The boys an' oi'll keep watch heah. You two girls go back and finish sleepin'. The car'll be 'ere when ya need it in the mornin'."

"Thanks, Monty."

"You what!"
"I, uh, I didn't get a chance t' mess up the car."
"Beauford, you knucklehead! I swear, if I could get anybody else to work for what you do…"
"My friend, we now have a serious problem," the mysterious gangster put in. "If someone wins this racing season, then this track will not close. And I will not achieve my aim. And I will not be happy. So as of now, my boys and I will handle things our way. We'll let you know if we need help."

"Well, I…"
O'Walnut looked after the receding figure.
"Sheesh. Maybe it's better we ain't associated with him now. I got a bad feelin' about that one."

The next morning dawned cloudy, with a storm front on the horizon. One by one, the cars lined up at the starting point. The announcer explained the rules.

"All right, folks, here it is. Each driving team has received a map. Ya'll hafta get from here, to the point marked on there. You can take whatever route you can find. First car there wins. Any questions?"
No one spoke.
"Good. Then lets git racin'!"

The drivers slid into their cars, and took their positions.

"Are you sure you're up to this, Gadget?" Tammy asked.

The mouse inventor waved the question off.

"Oh come on, I've driven the alleys of New York City on stormy nights with the Rangermobile shorting out every mile. I think I can handle this. But if I need you to, you can spell me after a few miles."
"Cool."

"Right. Now strap in tight, and hang on. From what I understand, this is a pretty no holds barred race. These other drivers may try anything to win."
The seconds ticked down in what seemed like an eternity.

CRACK!
The starter's pistol sounded suddenly, and vehicles roared from all sides of the track.

The competition was on!

"All roight, mates, heah's the plan. Oi spread the word among the drivers earlier that we got a backup vehicle over there in th' shed. Now then, when them sorry dingoes come an' try to sabotage it, they're gonna get more than they bargained for. Oi boobytrapped the ignition system on this wreck with some of Gadget's spare spark plugs. They'll get a charge out of it, oi think!"

Monty sat back, looking very pleased with himself.

"Monty, that's…actually a very good, well thought out plan! How unlike you!" Chip said.

"Thanks, lad, though oi'm not exactly sure 'ow to take that."

"It's a good plan," Sparky thought aloud. "And now would be the perfect time for someone to try it, while this race is on."

Suddenly, Zipper flew up, panting, and began to buzz frantically.

"'E says 'e heard a scratchin' noise near th' sheds! That's them, pallies! Follow me!"

The Rangers took off at a run, making for the enclosure where Monty's trap had been set. As they approached, there was the sound of electricity buzzing, and a loud yelp. They crashed through the doors, and Monty set his formidable strength against the gutted hulk he'd used for bait. As it rolled back, a tunnel entrance was revealed. Chip beamed his penlight down into the whole, and Reguba stood ready with his staff.

"Come out, fell villains! Surrender!" he shouted.

"All right, we surrender! Please not to hurt us!"
As the perpetrators climbed out into the light, everyone stopped dead still and stared.

"The Panda kids!" Dale asked in disbelief.

"The Rescue Rangers!" the two young pandas cried. "We are saved!"

"Waitaminit," Chip said. "What do you mean, you're saved? You're the ones we've been trying to catch sabotaging the cars!"

"Yes, we know," Ling-Sun, the female panda said. "But we hope you will believe us when we say we had no choice!"

"Our parents are in danger, and being held against their will," Chi-Lin, her brother added. "All that we know is that a mysterious 'boss', as we are required to call him, "has them somewhere nearby here. In exchange for their safety, we use our digging machines to sabotage these vehicles. It is a pity, for they are such fine work!"

Reguba looked doubtful.

"Do we believe them?"
Chip nodded.

"They're old friends, Reg. If they say someone made them do this, then someone did."
"Blimey, sorry 'bout th' shock therapy, kids," Monty offered, slightly embarrassed. "Didn't know it was you two oi was trappin'!"

"It is all right, Mister Colby," Ling-Sun replied. "You did not know. But we must return to our tunnels! If the boss finds us not working, it will go hard with our parents!"

"Were you on tour again?" Chip asked.

"Yes, at the State Zoo here. Our parents were kidnapped soon after we arrived."

"Don't worry, guys," Dale assured them, "we'll get to the bottom of this!"
Chip agreed.

"Meantime, you two get back down there and make with the digging. We'll see what we can come up with topside here."

Meanwhile, out in the boondocks, the Rangers' two undercover females were giving their all…all to holding on for their lives, that is.

"W-w-what kind of c-c-c-civilization d-d-does this for f-f-fun?" Tammy asked, her teeth clattering from the rough terrain.

"You'd be surprised," Gadget answered, never taking her eyes from ahead. She'd spied an old trail through the forest soon after leaving the starting line, and had cut across an open field to reach it. It was proving hard going, but the Rangerbolt was performing admirably with it's undercarriage modifications. She swerved to miss a fallen log.

"Well, this is working out pretty well, I'd say! We've got a pretty decent path, the ground's evening out, and…"
"Look out!"
Tammy's scream brought Gadget out of her monologue, and she literally stood on the brakes. Skidding through the soft dirt, the Rangerbolt stopped, with it's front bumper hanging over a creek bank. The water looked swift and deep, and there was no place to cross.

"Great," Tammy muttered. "How do we get across that?"
Gadget looked around, and sighed. Mumbling to herself, she started checking angles and calculating vectors. After a moment, she shifted into reverse, and started backing up the trail.
"Gadget…what are you doing?"
"Getting us across the creek."
"How? I don't see a bridge anywhere."
There was a twinkle in Gadget's eyes.

"Who said anything about a bridge?"
Tammy didn't get it for a minute, and then she started shaking her head.

"Ohhhhh no, Gadget. Don't you even think it!"
"It's the only way across."
"I don't care! Go find a ford somewhere!"
"There isn't one. Just sit tight and hang on."

Shifting down, she pressed the accelerator to the floor. The Charger picked up speed, it's rear tires spinning as they barreled down the hill and toward the running water.
"Gadget, if we get out of this alive, remember, I'm gonna kill you!" Tammy yelled, covering her eyes as the wheels left the ground.

The Rangerbolt shot over the open space like a missile, traveling through the air at top speed, to ram against the ground on the other side, still rolling. As they picked up speed again, Tammy tentatively peeked around her hands.

"Did we make it?"

"We're still driving aren't we, silly?"

"Oh…yeah. Good thing Bink wasn't with us."
"Why's that?"
"She'd want to go back and do it again!"