CHIP 'N' DALE

RESCUE RANGERS

Gadget's dilemma

Authors note: This is my second outing in the rescue ranger series, albeit my first one was a failed attempt at a crossover between the show and Sherlock Holmes. This time I hope to do better. In this tale a set of circumstances sets Gadget on a path away from the place she has called home and puts one rescue ranger's feelings into perspective. Sometimes you don't know how much you miss something till it is gone, so with that in mind let us get underway, rescue rangers away.

CH.1: Broken wings

"Alright…she should be ready to go now." Gadget Hackwrench told her friends. She was positioned on the wing of the Ranger plane, her head poking inside the engine.

"Are you sure Gadget love? I would hate to have something happen while we were in midflight…like last time." Monterey Jack noted.

"Relax Monty…I'm sure I got the kinks out of it. Last time it was a mere wind draft under the belly, it merely upset the balance of the landing gears is all."

"And that is how we landed in the water," Dale added, "boy I never drank so much water before in my entire life."

"That is why you keep your mouth close dummy." Chip bopped his friend in the head and shook his head. Crossing his arms he let out a sigh. "Gadget, I am in full support of your projects and hobbies, but, when it comes to the vehicles…I'm beginning to worry."

"Not you too Chip. C'mon, this thing is safe enough to fly in, have I ever let you down?" Gadget lifted her head and saw her friends looking away. "Ok, well, don't count yesterday…or the day before that, but surely the week before I had things under control."

"I guess we can give it a try," Chip raised his hand as he read the alarm in his friend's body, "look we have a case to solve, would you rather walk all the way there? Who knows what Professor Nimnul is cooking up this time, all we know is he is housed in the electrical factory down town."

Climbing into the front seat Chip smiled at Gadget. Of course she didn't notice as she was going over the pre-flight check list before taking off. Heaving a sigh he looked over the side. Sometimes he wondered why he bothered; it wasn't like she could reciprocate his feelings when he couldn't even say them out loud.

"Alright, everything looks good. Buckle up everybody, just as a precaution, and off we go." Gadget began to lead the Ranger plane off the side of the tree and the wings began to beat against the wing sending them up. The balloon up above had been patched up since their last mission and so far no hindsight were evident on her part.

"Wowee…we're still flying…and you guys had doubts." Dale gave each of his friends a scolding look and settled back putting his feet up into Chip's head.

"It is alright Dale…I can understand everyone's reservations about being in one of my vehicles. I am beginning to question my usefulness to the group. Still…I went over every foreseeable accident or mishap and if my calculations are correct, 99% of the time, then we have nothing to worry about."

"That is a relief Gadget love…cause I actually would like to keep my lunch this time. I had myself a nice cheese sandwich, with a touch of tomato. Yes sir…that was the best lunch I've had in a bit, seeing how my cheese attacks have been subdued of late."

"Why is that Monterey?" Dale inquired looking over at the big mouse.

"Well Dale my pal it is all on account of the shortage of cheese. I would investigate it my self…but haven't had the time to get away for a bit."

"There will be plenty of time for that later Monterey…we got more important things to do. Nimnul has been quiet, too quiet for his own good, even the Police are questioning his next move. We'll need all our skills for this case…so keep your wit about you."

Chip hoped they stopped Nimnul before he did anything. Normally it was them being one or two steps behind him, but, to get ahead of him would be something else. The perfect case, couldn't say they had many of those. Suddenly a strong gust of wind stirred up his fedora and he clutched it pulling it back down.

"We should be getting near," Gadget informed them as she righted the course they were flying. "Just a few minor calibrations and we should-."

Zipper was asleep until he heard a noise. Flying off to investigate he noticed the wings were struggling and they were losing altitude. Alarmed and a little worried for his friends he flew to Monterey's ear and began to speak fast.

"Crikey Zipper, what in blazes you trying to say?" Monterey tried to make sense of Zipper's warning but the trembling of the vehicle and dip in altitude worked faster in the sense department.

"Whoa…was that supposed to happen?" Dale held the side and noticed the wing was struggling with the weight of the people inside.

"No…I don't know why it is doing that. I made sure everything was ship shape before we took off…this has nothing to do with me. You'd better hold onto something…looks like we're heading for a crash landing!" Gadget tried several last ditch efforts but the roof was fast approaching.

"Crash landing?!" The Rescue Rangers secured themselves in, but this would do them little good soon as the flying vehicle touched down. The landing gears were the first to go as they failed to suck down onto the ground and with a stumble the vehicle hit nose down. The wings snapped in half as they flew down the roof pass two structures close together.

Gadget got out of her seat and found the emergency landing gear and stood upright as she aimed it down the seats past Dale and Monterey. "Hold still everyone…I'll have us out of this in a jiffy, well, two jiffy if my calculation is right."

"Better hurry Gadget love…other wise we'll be flying over the edge…with no wings!" Monterey sat back seeing the edge drawing near.

Chip looked back but suddenly as they hit a bump he went flying from the vehicle. He tried to grab onto something but failed and once he hit the ground he heard his arm break, heard the bone snap as he tumbled end over end as his fedora rolled from his head.

"Chip!" Dale yelled but soon he was sent flying from the wreckage as he took a spill skinning up his arms and hit his foot against something hard causing him to yell out.

"Palies…oh this is not good…Gadget love…" Monterey and Zipper were next and Monterey found his famous cheese sniffing nose broken as he flew into a wall. Zipper was squished into his body and he let out a squeak and a whimper before joining his friend.

"I got it…guys?" Gadget felt the vehicle near the edge…but not go over. Decelerating to a stop she hopped down and saw her friends scattered about, their wounds making her clutch at her heart. "Oh no…this is all my fault. I thought my repairs were flawless, but, there must've been a bolt I had not accounted for. How could I be so stupid?"

"My latest invention is complete!" Nimnul's voice could be heard below as he began to walk out of the factory strapped to a walking device that spouted electrical fury. "The Nimnul electrical fire wrecker will suck all the electricity from the city and will hold it ransom for a increasingly steep price. Oh yes, I will be unstoppable this time!"

Gadget hurried over to see and held her hand over her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as she felt helpless for the first time…in a long time. The Ranger plane lay in pieces all around the roof and her friends were in just as bad as shape. Weighing heavily on her mind she suddenly realized what she had to do. "I have to leave the Rescue Rangers…it's the only thing I can do."

Authors note: It appears the Rangers are in worse shape then ever and Gadget holds herself responsible. This is the worse shape they have ever been in and the repercussions will be severe. I hope you have enjoyed and in the coming chapter another Ranger takes their leave. Who will be hit the hardest and can a certain chipmunk be able to confess his feelings?