BEDBUGS By Matt Plotecher Gadget awoke from her sleep with a start. She looked around the darkened room, trying to figure what woke her. Everything was still. Moonlight gracefully flowed through her window, illuminating the room. At first she thought that something had dropped from a shelf, or a wall hanging had come loose from its place again. But everything was in order. She listened for a moment, hearing only silence. All the other Rangers were fast asleep, and the whole headquarters seemed in some type of peaceful slumber. She glanced at the clock. Three in the morning. She sighed and shook her head, then nestled back down in her bed. Nothing important, she thought sleepily. She was about to drift off when she heard the faintest of sounds. It sounded like something lightly scratching against wood. And it sounded close. Very close. More curious than frightened, Gadget carefully sat up again. She took a moment to pinpoint the noise, which seemed to be coming from under her bed. It was light, but steady. Maybe Dale is playing a joke on me, she thought. Dale had left jack-in-the-boxes under beds before as a gag, but he hadn't done anything like that since Monterey dangled him out of the window. Monterey said one good gag deserved another, and Chip agreed, stuffing a gag in Dale's mouth so he couldn't argue. After that, Dale seemed to give up on that particular joke. The scratching continued, though, so Gadget figured it might be one of Dale's toys that he misplaced. She leaned over to look under the bed, mumbling about having a talk with Dale about keeping out of her room. Her mumbling abruptly ceased as she caught sight of what was making the noise. She couldn't see it fully under the protective darkness it was in, but the dull, red glow from what she guessed were eyes (all six of them) told her immediately it didn't belong to Dale. Her jaw dropped as she saw that it was actually larger than her, filling the entire space under the bed. It had some type of hard, outer shell, and she could hear the clicking of mandibles from under it. Her bed lurched suddenly as it rose up. She toppled forward, landing heavily on the floor. She instinctively rolled when she hit, so the bed didn't crush her as it crashed to the floor on its side. With the bed now between her and...whatever that thing was, Gadget took the time to orientate herself. She crawled to an upright position, keeping her eyes on the bed. The creature rose up over the top of the bed, blocking out the window. The moonlight cast a ghastly silhouette of it, showing the sharp edges around it's carapace. Gadget watched in horror as six legs grabbed hold of the bed, three on each side. A huge set of mandibles bit down, snapping it in half with a loud crunch. It tossed the halves aside and started towards Gadget. Seeing all she wanted to, Gadget scrambled to her feet and ran for the door. Something slimy and burning latched around her ankle, roughly pulling her back to the floor. She let out a yelp of pain as her knee skidded across the wooden floor. Where are the others? She thought frantically. She figured that the destruction of her bed would have gotten them up. But nobody came to her aid. She could see now it was some sort of tentacle that had wrapped around her ankle, and was holding her in place as the creature advanced. Gadget's hands groped around in search of anything she could use a weapon. Finally, they latched onto some strips of cloth she had been planning to use to patch the Ranger Plane. Quickly, she wound one up tightly, then snapped it into one of the creature's eyes. Sure enough, the pain caused it to weaken its grip on her, enabling her to pull free. She got to her feet again and backed away carefully, not daring to turn her back on it for a moment. Her ankle was burned and bruised from where the tentacle had grabbed her, and her knee was bleeding slightly from the scrape across the floor. Gadget's hand reached back to the wall until she found the light switch. She was determined to find out what this thing at least looked like. She flipped on the light, and stared in bewilderment at nothing. It was gone. She blinked several times. Her gaze moved back to her bed, sitting peacefully where it always had. The covers were thrown back, but it was still in one piece. She looked down at her ankle. It was fine, with no trace of pain or outward signs that it had been damaged. "It was all a dream." She took several deep breaths to steady herself. "What a nightmare. No wonder nobody came, it was only a nightmare." She started forward to lie down, but a flinch of pain stopped her. She reached down and checked her knee, which still had its scrape. Her fingers gingerly touched it, just to make sure she was seeing it. The flickers of pain told her she was. "I must've been sleepwalking, or sleepfighting. Whatever." She started to explain to nobody in particular. "I was dreaming of the fight with that...thing, and in actuality, I really did trip and scrape my knee. Really." She was having trouble convincing herself of that. It was all so real. So vivid. She could recall with crystal clarity the silhouette of the thing. The clicking of its mandibles. The slimy touch of that tentacle. But it *had* to be a dream... Gadget stood there for several minutes, until something within her made her walk to her bedside, kneel down, and look under the bed. Nothing was there. Except for the scratches in the wooden floor. Chip smacked his lips a few times as he crawled out of bed. Last night they had finished a month-long case, and it had been pretty vigorous. He had slept like the dead since he hit the sack, and now he felt like the dead rising from the grave. He stood up and stretched, allowing his muscles to unknot themselves from the heavy sleep. Dale was still snoring peacefully in the upper bulk, making Chip entertain thoughts of diving back into dreamland. But it was his turn to make breakfast, so he dressed quickly (he wears a jacket and hat, how long could it take?) and headed out into the hallway. He hummed a tune as he walked down towards the kitchen. As he passed by the living room, he noted that someone had left the lights on. "That Dale," Chip muttered. "He'd forget to breathe if it took coherent thought." He stepped in, then stopped at the doorway. Gadget was asleep on the couch. She had her blanket curled up about her, and Chip noticed she was holding a hammer in her hand. He thought she had gone to bed at the same time as everyone else, but it looked like she had decided to work late. Of course, why she decided to sleep out here instead of in her own bed made him wonder a bit. First things first, he thought. He went about and turned off the lights. The early morning sun was just cresting the horizon, so Chip opened up the drapes and windows, allowing both the sunshine and fresh air in. As he moved on to the kitchen, he noticed that Gadget's face didn't look peaceful. Her brows were knotted up, and her lips trembled with each breath. She looked worried at the least, terrified at the most. Chip turned on the stove and put some bacon into the pan. It would take a few minutes to cook, so he poured a large glass of orange juice and walked back out to Gadget. He felt awkward, for some reason, as he tapped lightly on her shoulder. If she had looked more at ease, he probably would have just let her sleep, but his concern was roused. "Gadget?" He asked softly. "Hey, wake up." Gadget hmmm-ed quietly, and pulled the covers around her tighter. But she was waking up. "Hmm?" She finally voiced, her speech thick with sleep. "Hey, it's almost time for breakfast," Chip started, trying to sound unconcerned. It didn't last. "Are you okay?" "Huh? Okay?" Gadget's eyes opened slowly, bringing the world into focus. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine." She looked up at Chip. Chip helped her to sit up and put the glass in her hand. "Here, this will help wake you up." He sat down on the couch next to her. "Late night last night?" He pointed to the hammer her other hand held. "Oh, yeah." Gadget nodded drowsily, dropping it to the floor. In her semi-conscious state, she wasn't really paying attention, but Chip was, and managed to move his foot before the hammer crushed it. Gadget took a long drink from the glass, then a deep breath. "Thanks, Chip." "Are you sure you're okay?" Chip asked again, hoping she was awake enough to answer with more than `Oh, yeah.' "How come you're out here?" She closed her eyes for a moment. "Oh..." She thought about telling Chip about it, then dismissed it. "No reason. Just was too tired to go to my room, that's all." It was merely a dream, she reminded herself. She shuddered. A dream that forced her to sleep out here with all the lights on and a hammer in her hand. Chip nodded slowly. "You must've been tired, you left all the lights on." Gadget gave a half-hearted smile, but didn't say anything. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor. Chip turned to look out the window. He didn't want to press, but it was painfully obvious that Gadget wasn't being totally honest. She said she was too tired to make it to her room, but those were her blankets she was wrapped up in. Chip highly doubted she kept them in the workshop. He also highly doubted she did any work in her nightgown, but he didn't say anything yet. He wanted Gadget to talk about whatever was bothering her, but she had to make the decision, not him. They sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes. Finally, Chip turned to ask her what had really happened, but Gadget spoke first. "Do you smell something burning?" She asked honestly. "Burning?" Chip repeated. Then he caught a whiff of burning fat. "Oh no, the bacon!" He jumped and ran back to the kitchen to try and salvage what he could. Alone again, Gadget breathed a sigh of relief. She decided right then that if he asked again, she'd tell him the truth. "It was just a bad dream." She practiced, gathering up her blankets and walking back to her room. She continued to repeat it all the way back, and was starting to believe it, but that annoying twinge of pain from her knee kept breaking the belief. "Dale, will you hand me those files?" Chip asked. "What files?" "The ones you're sittin' on." Monterey helpfully pointed out. "Oh." Dale quickly sat up and grabbed the stack of files. He handed them to Chip, who was sitting at the table. Everyone was in the living room, getting odds and ends taken care of now that the case was over. The afternoon was warm and sunny, and outside children could be heard playing. Monterey was helping Gadget make some simple repairs on their gear that was damaged, Chip was filing everything away, and Dale and Zipper were helping out where they could. "When's lunch?" Dale asked. "Not for another hour, Dale." Chip answered without looking up. "I've told you that nine times now." "Well, I'm hungry." Dale grumbled. "There wasn't that much to eat at breakfast, you know." Chip frowned at Dale, who grinned in return. "Relax, mate. Lunchtime'll be here soon enough." Monterey held one of their plunger harpoons steady as Gadget realigned the firing mechanism. "Get enough sleep last night, Gadget-luv?" Gadget, caught in mid-yawn, could only nod. "Yeah. Just a bit restless, that's all." Monterey looked concerned, but Zipper's buzzing drew his attention over to the table. "I don't know, Zipper." Chip answered. "But he sure did seem confident, didn't he?" "Who, mate?" Monterey asked. "Oh, Zipper was just wondering why Osiris was looking so smug when we busted him last night." Chip set down the file he was reading. "Remember? He didn't seem too upset." "Yeah." Dale nodded. "Maybe he was looking forward to going to jail, `cause that's where he is now." "Doubtful." Chip snorted. Still, Zipper scratched his head, it is weird. I mean, he was caught, his loot from the robberies was recovered, and his gang was broken up. Normally criminals consider those to be bad things. Chip nodded. "Normally. But Osiris is hardly normal, in my opinion." "Whaddya mean?" Dale moved over and sat down at the table. "He looked normal enough to me." "Ah, but you didn't read all the details of his crimes, Dale." Chip replied, pulling papers from the file in front of him. "Listen to this: "The first crime that was linked to him, over six months ago, was from the museum. A set of jewels from the Orient vanished without a trace. No cameras picked anything up, and the guards never saw or heard anything. The only reason we know Osiris was responsible was because he admitted to it after we found the jewels in his cache." "Oh yeah." Dale nodded, remembering. Did they return the jewels yet? Zipper gestured. "No, all of the stolen goods are still being checked over by the authorities. To make sure they're authentic, track down the owners, and be listed so the judge can have something to base his decision on when he decides how long Osiris will be part of the jail house rock. But listen, there's more: "One of his crimes involved the theft of an entire room full of people. Or more accurately, their belongings. It was at the reception party for Norwin enterprises, after their annual stockholders party." All the Rangers nodded. They were familiar with the company, which was the king of the animal kingdom's import and export business. "All the guests," Chip continued, "never saw or heard Osiris, or anyone else who was not invited. All of them, whether they were mice, rats, moles, or whatever, were completely robbed. Not only wallets and other items carried in their pockets, but also all jewelry, and even one guy who kept emergency money in his shoe found it missing." Chip set the paper back down. "It's like Osiris was a ghost or something." Monterey laughed. "Not ghost-like enough, mate! He felt pretty solid when I clocked him one!" The other Rangers laughed in agreement. "You got that right, Monty." Dale grinned. "I guess Osiris was still reeling from that hit, that's why he was smug. Still lost in a haze." "And nobody knows what it's like to be lost in a haze like you, Dale." Chip remarked. "Yeah...wait." Dale thought he was just insulted. "Anyway," Monterey said, quick to change the subject. "Whatever Osiris was thinkin', the case is over." Chip nodded satisfactory as he put the papers back. "The crook was caught, the loot recovered, and everyone lives happily ever after." "Yeah." Gadget stated distractedly. She finished her work on the plunger harpoons and stepped back. "Okay, Monty, thanks. We're done with that stuff for now." She walked over and sat down on the couch. The rest of the Rangers continued to clean up. Chip finished the paperwork and went to go deliver it to the detainment center where Osiris was being held. Dale and Zipper helped Monterey carry the equipment back to Gadget's workshop. Gadget leaned back against the couch, closing her eyes. "I should've slept in my own bed last night, dream or no dream. I wouldn't be so tired now..." She mumbled as she dozed off. Chip decided to take the Ranger Wing over to the detainment center, figuring the sooner he got this done, the sooner he could focus fully on what was eating Gadget. The detainment center was the same spot that the humans used for holding people who were awaiting trail, but the animals had moved into the walls and ceilings, setting up their own jail system. Chip chuckled at the thought of the humans ever finding out how developed the animal world really was. "They probably think we still steal pancakes from ducks and only have walnuts as home decor." He remarked to himself as he landed the Ranger Wing on the roof. He parked it behind a air conditioning unit, grabbed the paperwork, and hopped out. He entered through the small door in the side of a ventilation shaft, which led to a small set of stairs inside one of the walls. He moved down them quickly, glad for the white Christmas lights strung up. He never liked moving inside these walls too much, as it was only a foot wide. He preferred large, open spaces to enclosed areas like this, but wherever a case would lead, he would follow. This time, the end of the case led into the office of the warden for the animals, a gruff squirrel called McDugell. Chip had once asked him what his first name was. "Warden", McDugell replied. Chip wasn't sure if that was a joke or not, so opted to stick to McDugell. Chip stepped off of the stairs onto the office level of the interior detainment center. A simple wooden floor held the desks of the officers who worked here, while McDugell actually had walls set up around his, making it an actual office. Chip walked up to it, waving to the officers he passed. He knocked on the door and looked in through the inset window. McDugell, who was working at his desk, looked up and motioned for Chip come in. "How are you, Chip?" He asked politely, indicating a chair for Chip to sit in. "Fine, thanks." Chip walked to the desk and dropped the paperwork. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I gotta run. Other case, in a way." He started back out the door. "Hold it, Chip." McDugell stood up from his chair, taking the paperwork. "I've got something I think you should see." Chip looked at McDugell questioningly, then walked back inside, shutting the door. McDugell flipped through the paperwork, nodding as he read it. "I keep telling you Chip, you should be an officer. You can think, you're interested in helping the city, and you actually know how to organize paperwork so it helps us put the trash on the streets away." Chip shook his head. "Thanks, but you know I prefer the independent style. More freedom, and I can pursue other options as they come up." "And pursue other Rangers, too, eh?" McDugell asked with a wink. He knew about Chip's attraction to Gadget. "Didn't you have something to show me?" Chip asked quickly, not wanting to run the risk of blushing, as he did whenever McDugell teased him about Gadget. The warden nodded and walked over to the desk, setting the paper down and picking up some items. He moved back over to Chip and handed them to him. "Know what these are?" Chip looked at the items. They looked like small totems and tools or toys made from twigs, rope, and rocks. Small feathers were stuck in some. A few looked like something from a book of American Indian artifacts, while others were of more recent construction. Chip guessed those were from parts of India and Mongolia, judging by the ivory he spotted. Each one also had inscriptions along the handles. Chip studied them intently. "I can't recognize them all, but some of these are ancient languages..." He squinted at one. "This one looks like Mesopotamian." "Right on the money, Chip. You studied these in school or something?" Chip just smiled. "Let's just say I'm a terror at Trivial Pursuit." McDugell nodded. "Okay then, for an orange wedge, here's the question: Guess where we found these?" Chip shrugged. "Another museum heist?" "Bzzt. Wrong. At Osiris' hideout." Chip blinked. "Really?" "Yeah, and more than that." McDugell looked around for a moment, then lowered his voice. "Books. Old books. In all sorts of languages. The lab boys managed to decipher a few." He turned back to the desk, and grabbed some more papers. "Here's what we've managed to translate so far. "'By Osiris and Osaris, by Neptinea and Nortunea, by the sea from the north and the sun to the south, the final winds blow out from the mouth of the great evil of Sarafin to encompass the innocent in her ever-vile breath--" As Chip listened, he tried to place some of the names he was hearing. Where had he heard this before? He racked the recesses of his mind, and opened up something hidden by mistake. He remembered a small room. The walls were made of wood, and the ambient light was a sickly yellow, much like the light from street lamps and parking garages. *Flash* The rest of the Rangers were there, looking about. Everyone seemed confused and disoriented. Dale was talking, but words were muffled and garbled, unintelligible even though he was only inches away. *Flash* And that golden yellow disc that floated there, with those swirling orange and red colors within, spiraling down towards the middle... Chip found himself being helped back to his feet by McDugell. "Hey, Chip, what happened? Are you okay?" The warden guided Chip to a chair and sat him down. "Yeah..." Chip weakly replied. He couldn't believe how shaky he was. "I...think I'm okay now. What happened?" "I was hoping you'd tell me. I was reading to you what we had translated, and then you started to swoon, then collapsed to the floor." Chip shook his head. "I...guess this case has just had me under a lot of stress, that's all." He took a deep breath, and started to calm down. "Yeah, it's passed." "Good. Last thing I need is for you to break down like the others." "Others?" Chip asked. "Oh, that's right, you haven't heard. Well," McDugell sat down on the edge of the desk, "some of the members of the force involved in the capture of Osiris have caught a fever of some kind. They've been hallucinating." Chip nodded as he thought. The Rangers were the ones who led that chase. "We tracked him to that condemned factory and warehouse. There were a lot of noxious substances lurking around. Probably some of the fumes were inhaled by some of the force." "Yeah, we already have our medics checking them out. Hopefully, they'll isolate the problem soon enough." Chip stood up, his strength recovered. "Well, I'll try to do some research on some of those items, then." He took out his notepad and started jotting down notes about them. "I'll stop by again when I've discovered something." McDugell nodded and opened the door for Chip. "Take care, Chip. See you soon." Chip nodded respectively and made his way back up the stairs to the roof. As he climbed aboard the Ranger Wing, he thought about what had happened to him. He'd classify it as a flashback, but he couldn't figure out where it had come from. He took out his notepad and made a few more notes, then started up the Ranger Wing and took off. Before he headed back to the HQ, though, he stopped by for a brief chat at the nearby mental ward. ***** Gadget yawned sleepily and opened her eyes. The living room was quiet and dark. Her eyes managed to focus on the clock. "Ten at night." She sighed. "I've been asleep for over seven hours." She sat up on the couch and stretched. Glancing about, she saw that everyone else had apparently gone to bed. All the lights were off and the doors to their rooms closed. She yawned again, amazed that she could still be sleepy. Still, all the easier for her to fall asleep tonight. She made her way to the kitchen, moving smoothly through the darkened room. After getting a glass from the cupboard, she walked to the sink and filled it. She took a relaxed sip, feeling the cool water as it travelled down her dry throat. She finished the rest of water, then walked over to the cupboard to put the glass away, only to be stopped by six red eyes staring at her. Her jaw dropped as her fingers around the glass tightened. She was about make a yelp, but one of its tentacles latched around her knees, dragging her to the floor. Another one latched around her throat, cutting off the passage of air for either breathing or screaming purposes. Just then she remembered the glass in her hand. She pulled back to throw it at the creature, but another tentacle wrapped itself around her wrist. How many tentacles does this thing have? She thought frantically. *What* is this thing? It moved closer to her, mandibles clicking all the while. Through the blur that used to be her vision, Gadget spotted some movement over near the doorway to the hall. It first she was afraid it was another creature, but as it moved into the kitchen she was able to recognize the loud red and yellow pajamas of Dale. She wanted to call out and warn him, but she couldn't even manage a whimper. Not that it mattered, really, as Dale didn't seem to notice the thing. In the fog of her mind, Gadget wondered how he could miss the foot-long, insect-like creature with its six glowing red eyes, but the lack of oxygen prevented her from puzzling it out. Gadget shut her eyes, trying to summon the strength to fight this thing. Dale, blissfully unaware of the life and death struggle in the corner, hummed a cheery tune as he made his way over to the refrigerator for his midnight snack. He opened the door, and took a moment to study the contents. Gadget could feel the last traces of her breath evaporate in her lungs, and everything started to go numb-- "Gadget?" Dale's voice, calm and curious, cut through her weakened mind like a snowplow. She opened one eye, her head tilted back far enough to see Dale standing in front of the refrigerator, silhouetted against the light from within. The tentacles abruptly released themselves from her, and she crumbled into a heap on the floor. The glass finally fell from her hand, breaking as it hit the floor. Dale watched as Gadget fell, but only for a moment. The next second he was by her side, trying to see if she was hurt at all. Fortunately, she wasn't. No signs of injury were evident. Gadget, confused beyond reason and scared to death, flung her arms around Dale and broke down into a fit of hysterical sobbing. Dale was surprised both at the sudden outburst and the strength that Gadget clung to him, but knew enough to hold her tightly, allowing her to purge whatever it was from her system. The hallway lights came on as the rest of the Rangers stumbled into the kitchen. "I heard a crash..." Chip started. "Gadget!" Monterey gaped at the lady he had known since she was a little girl. "Dale, what happened?" Zipper flew over next to Dale and Gadget, gently patting her on the shoulder. "I dunno, Monty." Dale answered quietly, his eyes filled with worry. He gently ran his hand down Gadget's back, trying to soothe her. "I came in for a snack, heard a noise, turned around, and saw her on the floor. She looked like she was doing some sort of exercise, with her back arched, so I called out her name, and then she just collapsed and started crying." Chip and Monterey exchanged worried glances, then moved over to Dale and the shivering Gadget. Monterey quickly and carefully brushed up the broken glass and dumped it in the trash while Chip took a look around the room. "Everything seems in perfect order." Chip knelt down by Dale. "I wonder what happened?" "Maybe a bad dream?" Monterey offered, kneeling down on the other side of Gadget. That must have been some dream, Zipper motioned, to reduce Gadget to tears. The others nodded in unison, and then just watched in silence as Dale continued to support Gadget. Her crying had subdued, and she opened her eyes a tiny bit. Using only her eyes, she glanced about. The creature was nowhere in sight. All of her friends were gathered close around her. Dale was still protecting her. An incredible wave of security washed over her, closing her eyes, and sending her into a deep sleep. "So what do you think?" Dale asked. He was at the kitchen table, with Chip and Monterey. They had put Gadget to bed, and Zipper decided to stay by her side to make sure she was okay. Chip shook his head. "I don't know. You're sure you've told us everything?" Dale nodded. "Well, mates, maybe Gadget can fill us in on what happened." Monterey shrugged. "She has a better idea than any of us." "Yeah," Dale slowly stated, "If she wants to remember. Did you see how scared she was? I've never seen her act like that before." The others nodded in the gloom, nobody sure what to say. This continued for a long while, as each tried to puzzle out what was going on. Finally, Chip stood up and left without a word. Dale and Monterey exchanged glances. Chip returned a few minutes later, with Zipper. They both had changed out of their pajamas, and Chip was securing his hat as they passed through the kitchen. "Keep an eye on Gadget." Chip stated briskly. "I think she'll be fine--she's sleeping like a log--but I don't want her to wake up alone. If there's one thing I can tell, it's that whatever the problem is, being with her friends alleviates it." Monterey nodded. "Not a problem, mate." He stood up and walked to Gadget's room, calling back, "I'll take the first shift." "I'll switch with you in a few hours, Monty," Dale called back, then turned to Chip. "Where are you and Zipper off to?" "I've got some errands to run. Zipper said he'd give me a hand. I think we might be able to track down a lead, but it'll take time." Chip nodded to Dale. Zipper flew out the side door leading to the garage. Chip watched him go, then turned back to Dale, unsure how say it. "Watch over her for me." He wanted more than anything to be by Gadget's side when she woke, but he also knew that if he was going to cash in on a hunch, he had to move now. Dale locked eyes with his best friend. "I understand." He nodded. "I will." Despite their quarreling for Gadget's affections, their loyalty to their friendship never wavered. Chip smiled his thanks, and left to catch up with Zipper. Once in the garage, he took a moment to go around each of the vehicles, removing the ignition wire so they wouldn't start. That should at least slow her down, he thought. The housefly was already waiting in the small seat Gadget had built for him when Chip finally climbed into the Ranger Wing. He started up the motors, taking off into the brisk night air. "First place to stop by is the library," Chip told Zipper as they flew over the dreaming city. "That's where I need your help the most Zipper. Between the two of us, we should be able to find the books we need to confirm my suspicions before the next stop." What exactly *are* your suspicions? Zipper look over at Chip. "Well," Chip started, then glanced over at Zipper. He really didn't like talking about it yet, since it was rather bizarre, but at the same time, Zipper was the most receptive of the Rangers to Chip's deductions. So, he took the time to explain what he thought was going on. As Zipper listened, his expression went from curious, to disbelieving, to confused, and finally back to curious. Yeah, Zipper nodded when Chip finished, I could buy that. But why just Gadget and not the rest of us? Chip shrugged. "I don't know. I don't even know if my theory is correct. But if it is..." He let Zipper make the connection. Zipper shuddered, showing he did. So why didn't you tell the others? Chip gave a terse laugh. "Because if I'm right, and I did tell them...then if Gadget woke up before we got back, somebody would've gotten seriously hurt." They remained silent for the rest of the trip. Silence was all about the detainment center, as well. It was long past the lights-out time, and most of the inmates were sleeping. Most. Osiris sat on his bed, staring ahead out of the wire mesh that served as bars. He could see the clock outside on the wall, and watched as the hour hand drew closer to midnight. "Any time now." He chuckled silently to himself. And waited. Dale was still in the kitchen, munching on a small sandwich and flipping through a comic book, when he heard Monterey call him. "Dale lad!" Monterey called out. "She's wakin' up!" Dale jumped to his feet and dashed down to Gadget's room in a heartbeat. He stepped through and next to Monterey. Sure enough, Gadget was stirring under her covers. She blinked tiredly, and sat up looking around until she spotted Monterey and Dale standing by the doorway. Her jaw dropped and she clenched her covers tighter. "Gadget-luv, it's okay." Monterey said soothingly, stepping forward. "It's us, Monty and Dale." Gadget screeched in response, scrambling over the end of her bed and away from Monterey. "Why won't you leave me alone?!" She pressed her back against the wall, eyes wide with fear. "Gadget, it's me, Dale!" Dale moved up next to Monterey. "We're your friends, remember? Snap out of it!" "Well I'm tired of you haunting me!" Gadget snarled in response. She reached over to the bed, grabbing the covers and flinging them at Monterey and Dale. Monterey easily batted them down, unsure why she chose that attack form. He realized a moment later as her night table came crashing into him and Dale, knocking them both flat. The blankets were just a screen, to buy time for her to toss her night table at them. Monterey wasn't sure what was more frightening; that she had managed to think of that tactic in her state, or that her anger had apparently granted her the strength needed to hoist the night stand so quickly. Or the fact that Gadget had apparently gone over the edge. "Gadget, why are you--" Dale's question was cut off as she drove her fist right between his eyes. Stars flared to life, and before Dale could recognize any constellations, her other fist homed in, dropping him to the floor. Monterey shoved himself away from the night stand and Gadget, trying to figure out how to stop Gadget without harming her. "Listen Gadget, you need to--" "Shut up!" Gadget reached over and actually snapped a leg off of the table. "I don't want to hear your threats anymore! And your clicking mandibles are driving me *insane*!" "Clicking mandibles?" Monterey asked, caught totally off-guard by the last statement. Unfortunately, this also means he was caught totally off-guard by the wooden leg that broke over his head as Gadget brought it down with blinding speed. He collapsed to the ground face down next to Dale, both of them enjoying their time in the state of unconsciousness. "Hrmph." Gadget snorted as she nodded satisfactory. "Some creatures. Right between their eyes and they go down like a ton of bricks." She scratched her head, still breathing quickly. "First time I heard them talk, though. First time I saw two of them, even. Still, that one with the Australian accent held out longer than the smaller one. Whatever." She shook her head, brushing her disheveled hair out of her eyes. "I hope my friends are okay. If these things did capture them...I don't have a moment to lose!" She threw down the stump of the leg she had and ran to the garage. But the Ranger Wing was gone. Gadget looked back and forth between the Rangermobile and the Ranger Plane. The Rangermobile was faster, but the Ranger Plane would allow her to go to her destination in a straight line. She finally opted for the Ranger Plane, figuring it'd be easy to escape once she rescued her friends. She was upset when it wouldn't start, and even more peeved when she saw it was because the igniter wire was missing. She went to replace it with one of the other igniter wires in the other vehicles, but they were all missing as well. Still, she kept her wits about her well enough to remember that she always had spares in her workshop. She ran back to get one, and five minutes later the Ranger Plane whirred to life, taking Gadget up into the night sky. "Hang on, guys," She whispered fervently. "I'm coming." "It doesn't look much better at night, does it?" Chip mentioned as they walked up to the mental health hospital. Zipper agreed as he flew next to Chip. He motioned that it never did look too cheery during the day, but at least there was some light. "Yeah, but maybe it's not the building, and actually our knowledge of what we're getting in to." Chip lead the way inside, as they turned down several hallways. After about ten minutes of walking, he stopped at a small mousehole located in the center of the building. They both stood outside, not wanting to be the first one in. I really don't like this, Chip, Zipper's eyes informed him. "Neither do I, Zipper." Chip sighed. "But at least this time our minds will be entered of our own free will, and not violated." He swallowed his anxiety and stepped through into an office, decorated in a contemporary style, with some sleek couches and small potted plants. There was a desk in the back, with two chairs in front of it. Behind the desk, writing in a notebook, was an old, gray mustached mouse. His bald head set off the thick glasses he wore at the end of his long nose. He looked up as they approached and smiled. "Ah, Chip, Zipper, good to see you again." His voice was deep and cultured, and always relaxed them whenever they heard it. "How can I be of assistance? You were, after all, here earlier today, Chip." "Yes, Dr. Speck." Chip nodded and sat down in one of the chairs, while Zipper settled comfortably on top of his hat. "I did some checking into what you suggested, and then again after I got some new information." "New information?" Dr. Speck asked, interested. "Tell me, have you heard of hypnotic triggers?" Dr. Speck nodded. "It's been theorized, but never really pursued. Considered too aggressive in most cases." "I read something about it at the library, but it really didn't discuss it in layman's terms. Could you?" "Certainly. Basically, the hypnotist implants a single command or series of commands into the subject. When the conditions are met, the subject reacts as instructed. They can get very detailed, to the point that the subject will rationalize why he or she acted that way." "That's what I was afraid of." Chip nodded sadly. "Dr. Speck, Zipper and I need your help. The rest of the Rangers do as well, but I'm pretty sure they're going to be busy for a while." "What's going on Chip?" Dr. Speck leaned forward intently. "Remember why I stopped by earlier?" "And asked about flashbacks, yes." "Well, like I said, I did some checking about them. But I wasn't sure until later tonight when something happened with Gadget. She was acting the same way that some of the guards who helped capture Osiris did. Having breakdowns. It sounded like some type of hex at first, with all the paraphernalia that McDugell showed me from Osiris' hideout." "You think Osiris cast a hex on you?" The mouse's gray eyebrow arched to respectable height. "I think that's what he wants people to think." Chip answered. "But that's why I need your help." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Zipper and I want you to put us in a trance, so we can remember what we forgot." "I beg your pardon?" "I'm betting Osiris got into our minds somehow, and I think the same thing happened with the other guards. I don't ever remember anything remotely close to that when we captured him, that's what I want to try and remember." Dr. Speck nodded slowly. "Very well. If it helps you." He stood up and walked around to the front of desk and leaned against it. "Before I do, though, I need to run a few perception tests." "Perception tests?" Chip echoed. "It's simple really." Dr. Speck picked up a small poster next to the table. It was of the color wheel, but the colors were blended together when they met, making one unified chart. "Look over here. You too, Zipper. Start at the area with the most red, and concentrate on it. Then move slowly up to the yellow. See how the colors bleed into each other? How the red seeps into the orange flawlessly? How the orange flows into the yellow perfectly? How the yellow bleeds into the green fluidly? Fluid transition. Flawless transfer. Uniform change..." Guided by the doctor's deep, relaxing voice, Chip's mind wandered about until it bumped into something. "You see the chest? The closed one?" The doctor's voice echoed in his mind. His mind's eye looked down and saw a closed chest. "Open it." The voice commanded. The lid hinged open reluctantly, and then the darkness within swallowed him. "He's gotta be around here somewhere." Monterey said, peering down the small hallway. "He ran this way after I hit him." The rest of the Rangers nodded. Chip motioned for the police closest to them. "He went down this hall to the room! Come around the back in five minutes!" They nodded and headed off. "Come on!" Chip lead the way down the hallway, everyone keeping a sharp eye out for any escape passages. The only way out was at the door at the end. They crouched by it, silently counting out the seconds until they hit the five minute mark. "Five!" They shouted as one and crashed through the door. Their timing was impeccable as the police crashed through the other door at the same time. Sure enough, Osiris was in the room. He stood in the middle, next to a large machine with a spinning disc at the top. It was golden, with orange and red colors spiraling down into the center. "Don't move!" Gadget called out, aiming her plunger harpoon at Osiris, who smiled and put his hands up. "I surrender." He stated clearly. "By Osiris and Osaris, by Neptinea and Nortunea, by the sea from the north and the sun to the south, by the final winds that blow out from the mouth of the great evil of Sarafin to encompass the innocent in her ever-vile breath, I surrender." The Rangers watched him carefully as he talked, but their eyes were constantly drawn to the spinning disc. Somebody should turn it off...but Osiris' rich voice was enrapturing, untethering their minds from the present situation. If they were aware of what was happening, they would have noticed that the police behind Osiris were in the same state as they watched the spinning disc and heard the smooth voice. "I surrender." Osiris commanded. "I surrender." The crowd repeated. "Ah, the wonders of mass hypnotism." Osiris smiled and dropped his arms. "Mother always said I would be a crowd pleaser." He stepped around, looking at the Rangers. "And it's you people again. Ever since I started working in this city you've been on my case. Very annoying you know." He rubbed his head where Monterey's fist had connected. Everyone still held their weapons, but they remained in the same position, eyes fixed forward, awaiting their next instructions. Osiris stepped to the doorway and took a careful look out. "It appears that you've brought quite a few friends this time." He frowned. "Despite my skill, I doubt I could dupe them all, even with the aid of my machine." He sighed, disappointed. "And before I ever had a chance to really use it in any of my plans. Oh well, I suspect I can pick it up later when it suits me." Some voices were heard outside, coming closer. "Not much time," Osiris mumbled. "First thing's first, though. I will need a rescuer. And who better than a Rescue Ranger?" He grinned as he strode to Gadget. "And I must say, as long as I can pick the Ranger I want to be rescued by, it might as well be the best. Best-looking, anyway." He stopped next to her and thought. "But how I can make this a piece of art...." He brightened, then leaned over and whispered quickly in Gadget's ear. Once he finished, she nodded obediently. He walked back to the center of the room, turning off the spinning machine. The others, still entranced, waited patiently for their next order. "As for you law enforcers," he said as he tossed a tarp over the machine and pushed it into a corner with some run-down crates, "have nervous breakdowns or something. I apologize for the crudeness of that, but I'm pressed for time." The slender mouse darted back to the center of the room. "And I'll deal with the rest of you Rangers later..." he muttered as footsteps could be heard just outside the wall. "Now everyone forget this ever happened," he ordered, "And when I reach zero, resume your actions from when Gadget last spoke." He put his hands up again. "Three...two...one..." Chip snapped awake, his hat shooting forward. Zipper, who was also just recovering from the trance, rode it to the floor with a yelp. "Why do I always have to be right about the wrong things?" Chip breathed. "Oh, sorry Zipper." Zipper waved that it was okay as the housefly rose to his feet, then into the air and handed Chip's hat back. "Found out what you needed?" Dr. Speck asked politely. "And what you suspected, from the sound of it." Chip nodded. "I don't know what Osiris told Gadget to get her to go after him, but you can ask him when we see him." He slapped his hat on and grabbed Dr. Speck, practically dragging him out into the hallway. "Ask him?! *I'm* coming?" Dr. Speck managed once he was able to keep up with Chip and Zipper's frantic pace. "But I can't! I'm in the middle of some work, and I have to close the office, and I--" Zipper knocked him on the head. We don't have time for that! He said with hurried shake of his head. We have to find Gadget before it's too late! "Too late for what?" Dr. Speck asked as they continued the mad ran down the hallways. "Before it's too late to stop her from breaking Osiris out of the detainment center." Chip answered. "What?!" "I'll explain once we're in the air, I promise." Chip quickly said as he got behind Dr. Speck and pushed. "But for now: *move*!" ***** Dr. Speck shook his head as they neared the oak tree in the park. "But how did you first suspect something like this?" "When McDugell read to me those deciphered notes in his office, and I had those flashbacks." Chip brought the plane down from the sky. "Apparently, it triggered a leak from the memory block that Osiris set up. Then, after Dale explained what had happened, with Gadget, I guessed it was either a dream, or something that was planted in her mind. Considering that the police who had helped capture Osiris had similar experiences earlier, I betted it wasn't coincidence. Sure enough, it wasn't. Osiris must have implanted something in her subconscious that is causing these hallucinations. Like I said, I'm not sure why he did that, or what they are, but you can ask him when we find him." And clean up the mess in Gadget's mind, Zipper added with a nod. "Hopefully, she's still asleep," Chip remarked as he slowed the wing down and brought it into the garage. As he turned it off, Zipper buzzed in alarm and pointed Chip's head to an empty spot in the garage. "What is it?" Dr. Speck asked, not sure what they were looking at. "I don't see anything." "Exactly," Chip grumbled. "There's nothing there. The Ranger Plane should be, but it's not." Zipper flew off into the house, searching for Monterey and Dale. Chip and Dr. Speck hopped out and ran after the fly, stopping in the dark kitchen. "Zipper, where are you?" Chip called out, trying to see which way the housefly went. "You know, I've never been here before," Dr. Speck said thoughtfully, looking around. "Really quite a nice set-up, actually. How did you arrange the plumbing?" "Not now, Dr. Speck!" Chip answered as he heard Zipper's frantic buzzing coming from Gadget's room. "Come on!" They rounded the corner, coming to a stop just inside Gadget's room. Zipper was trying to wake up Monterey and Dale, both of whom were face down on the floor, out cold. Chip flipped on the light, and then blinked in surprise at the devastation that was around his fallen friends. Tangled blankets, broken wood, and plenty of splinters. Dr. Speck stepped over to Monterey and Dale and turned them over. They appeared to be in a deep sleep, but nothing else. "Can you wake them up?" Chip asked. "Certainly." Dr. Speck nodded. "A good doctor always has a variety of methods for helping those in need." Both Zipper and Chip flinched as Dr. Speck forcefully backhanded Monterey and Dale with one swing of his hand. The two Rangers on the floor sprang up with a yelp, rubbing their red cheeks. "Of course, some methods are less painful than others," Dr. Speck mentioned as he rubbed the back of his hand. "But I thought speed was of the essence." "Crikey, I go to sleep with pain and I wake up with pain." Monterey grimaced as he tenderly ran his hand over were Gadget had clubbed him. "It's almost as bad as a root canal." "Almost?" Dale asked wearily, trying to decide if his eyes were supposed to operate independently of each other. "Guys, what happened? Are you okay?" Chip moved next to Dale and helped him up. Where's Gadget? Zipper asked with a look as he helped Dr. Speck push Monterey to his feet. "She's gone?" Dale asked Monterey, not sure of anything that happened after Gadget hit him the first time. "I guess so, mate." Monterey tried to quell the throbbing in his head. "After she K.O-ed us, it's not like there was anythin' to stop her." "Oh no..." Chip looked to Zipper, who nodded back. She's already on her way, Zipper gestured, and who knows how much of a head start she has? "Great." Chip grunted as he slung Dale's arm around him and started back to the garage. "Still, at least she's in the Ranger Plane. That gives us a speed advantage." He puffed and looked over at Dale. "You've been eating those leftover free samples in grocery stores again, haven't you?" "Chip, can we discuss my eating habits later?" Dale responded as he stumbled forward. "Where are we going, anyway?" "To the detainment center," Chip answered, helping Dale into the garage. Dr. Speck and Zipper brought in Monterey right behind them. "Why is Gadget going to the detainment center?" Monterey rubbed his head again. "Better yet, why'd she'd use my head for a wood splitter?" "Or mine for a punching bag." Dale nodded as Chip deposited him in the back. Straightening up after lugging Dale around, Chip took a moment to consider Dale. "She belted you?" "Twice." Dale grimaced as he touched his forehead. Chip looked impressed. "Quite a punch she has." "I've always said she would be a knockout," Monterey grumbled as he was dropped rather unceremoniously next to Dale. "I just wish it wasn't like this." Never seen Gadget do that before, Zipper buzzed thoughtfully. "And hopefully we'll never see it again, mate." Monterey shifted to a more sitting position and buckled up as Chip started the engines. "From what you've told me, Chip," Dr. Speck explained. "If she felt there was nowhere to run, then fighting would have been her last option. Plus, if the reason for the fear was something fantastic, then her fear is probably fueling her strength. I'd advise extreme caution if we catch up with her." "*When*, Dr. Speck." Chip corrected as the Ranger Wing took off. "When we catch up with her." The detainment center stood peacefully and serene in the night. No signs of anything amiss were evident. Of course, Chip thought, it was peaceful and serene back at the tree, too. Mainly because those within were knocked out. He brought the Ranger Wing down on the roof, and everyone quickly disembarked. "I don't like the looks of this, Chip." Dale indicated the barren roof. "Unless she really hid the Ranger Plane well, it's not here." "And we didn't pass her in the skies," Monterey nodded. "Not that I saw, anyways." "It would appear that she's already three steps ahead of us." Dr. Speck commented sadly as they entered the stairwell. "Hey, have a little faith people," Chip scolded them as they jogged down the steps. "It's not like she could just walk in here and release a prisoner...I hope." They finally reached the main landing with the desks, and quickly asked the night watchman if he had seen anything, except for Zipper, who decided to check to see if Osiris was still in his cell. "Gadget?" the night watchman replied. "No, she wasn't here. And I see everyone that comes and goes through here." "You're sure?" Chip prodded. "Positive." Chip frowned. "But I know we didn't pass her in the air," Monterey said to the others, "And the Ranger Plane is hard to miss." "Especially since we took the same path here she would have taken, Monty," Chip agreed. Zipper flew back up the steps and shook his head. Dale turned back to the guard. "Looks like you're not quite right. Zipper just checked Osiris' cell, and it's empty." "Impossible! Here, I'll prove it." He took a set of keys and led the Rangers to the back, unlocking a single door off to the side. A number of small monitors were lined into the walls, with a series of labels under each one. "This is the video security system. We managed to install some small, fiber-optic cameras around our little facility, and also managed to wire into the humans set-up downstairs." "Here," he pointed to a set of screens, "is the human's facility. These," he indicated another set, "are our place. We record each shift onto tape. Since this shift's is recording right now, I'll just rewind it." He pressed a few buttons on a bulky VCR that was underneath the screens, and one of the monitors went to black. They all watched as the guard rewound the tape, showing the events on the stairwell. They saw the Rangers arrival only a few minutes before, and then it was desolate for the rest of the tape. Except for Gadget and Osiris exiting through the stairwell about fifteen minutes before the Rangers got there. "What?!" The guard's jaw dropped. "I never saw them! How'd they get by me?" Dr. Speck felt a nudge from Chip, and nodded. He stepped forward and pretended to study the screen along with the guard. "Perhaps the video isn't showing us everything. Look here." He tapped on the image of the stairs. "Look at how this value of gray is slightly offset from the rest. The way that the lighting blends them all together in one framework of value, but yet the contrast between the light and shadows remain constant..." The rest of the Rangers, guessing what he was doing, turned any so they wouldn't be hypnotized as well. They listened to him drone on for a few minutes, then stop. "He's under." They turned back to see the guard staring blankly at the screen. "Wowie," Dale remarked with a grin. "And I always thought you needed a watch and had to talk to them about getting sleepy." Dr. Speck snorted. "Please. Those methods are brutal and crude. It's so much easier to hypnotize people when they aren't expecting it. Bring out a dangling watch and their mind throws red flags up all over the place." "Can you find out what happened?" Chip asked hopefully. Dr. Speck nodded and addressed the guard. "What happened?" Monterey smiled. "Can't argue with your style." Chip shushed him as the guard began to speak. "Gadget came in, and requested to speak to the prisoner. I really wasn't supposed to let her, but I think she likes me. She kept smiling at me." Chip and Dale rolled their eyes at this, but remained silent. "I brought her down to talk to Osiris," the guard continued, "who talked to me a little bit, then I unlocked his cell. I led them back upstairs, and he told me to go about my business and forget all about what had happened." Dr. Speck shook his head. "This Osiris chap is rather good at what he does." Tell me about it, Zipper nodded. The guard came to, blinking. "What the...oh, no." He slapped his hand to his forehead. "I actually released Osiris from his cell. What was I thinking?" "You weren't," Dale told him. "Osiris was doing the thinking for you." "I'm not sure that's much of an improvement," Monterey grumbled. "Listen," Chip said to the guard, "Call McDugell. Tell him that Osiris has escaped and has Gadget hostage." "What?" The guard looked puzzled. "She helped him escape." "It's her mind that Osiris has prisoner," Chip continued. "And I doubt he'll give it back anytime soon. Tell him to gather up what police he can and to meet us at the factory where we had captured Osiris at. We'll met him there!" Chip and the rest of the Rangers dashed back up the stairs to the Ranger Wing. "Why the factory, Chip?" Dale asked as they hopped back in the Wing. "Because I'm willing to bet that Osiris is going to pick up the machine that is able to hypnotize a large group of people at once." "What?" "Oh yeah." Chip nodded to himself as they strapped themselves in. He turned to Dr. Speck. "Dale and Monty still have that block. On the way over, do you think you could...?" "Certainly." Dr. Speck nodded and shifted around in his seat until he was facing Monterey and Dale, both of whom were looking a bit apprehensive. "And just for you, Dale, I'll even use a watch." The tarp was pulled off with a dramatic flourish, revealing the sophisticated machine underneath, topped by a golden disc. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Osiris said in pride as he gazed upon it. "Yeah." Gadget said distractedly. "Spiffy. Look, can we get going? If my friends have been moved from the cells they were in to some other location, I want to track them while the trail's still fresh." "Of course you do, my dear." Osiris chuckled as he pulled the machine out of the corner. "And you will. Weren't you the one who defeated those monstrous bedbugs that invaded your headquarters and captured your friends? Weren't you the one who got the guard in the detainment center down to my cell, so he could let me out?" "Well," Gadget blushed slightly. "He seemed to understand the urgency of our mission. And the fact that it was a mistake for you to be locked in there." In her mind's eye, Osiris was a trusted ally of the Rangers. "Indeed." Osiris nodded and opened the door leading from the room to the factory. "Mistakes happen, after all." Like leaving that memory of her friends in her head, he thought darkly. Maybe it was the easiest way to get her over here, but I'll correct that in a minute. Just wipe her mind clean completely, and rebuild in my own fashion. Looking at Gadget out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but think of some very interesting fashions. "Give me a hand with this, will you?" He motioned for Gadget help him push the machine out into the warehouse, towards the Ranger Plane. "So this thing will help track my friends?" She asked as they shoved it out. "Most assuredly." "How's it work?" "Very delicately." "Could I get a more elaborate description?" "No." They pushed it up to the Ranger Plane, and began to secure it to the lifting straps underneath. "You're sure it'll hold?" Osiris asked, checking the connections. "As long as it's under twenty pounds." Gadget nodded and started towards the Ranger Plane, but Osiris took her by the arm and stepped in front to look her in the eyes. "Before we go..." He started. Might as well do it now, he figured. "Just let me say thank you...By Osiris and Osaris, by Neptinea and Nortunea, by the sea from the north and the sun to the south, by the final winds that blow out from the mouth of the great evil of Sarafin to encompass the innocent in her ever-vile breath, I thank you." "I thank you," Gadget repeated mechanically. "Splendid." Osiris nodded to himself. "Now, forget your friends. They weren't friends, just acquaintances." Gadget nodded. "You weren't a Ranger, just concerned citizen." Gadget nodded. "You have been at my side for the past few years, helping me with heists by inventing machines for me." Gadget did not nod. Somewhat surprised, Osiris chuckled. "Don't like inventing for crime, eh?" Gadget nodded. "Well, your will is impressive, but I'll break that." He turned back to face the machine, then walked over to it and flipped it on. Gadget gave an involuntary shudder, but he didn't notice. The golden disc began to spin, creating lazy patterns which threatened to swallow Gadget's resistance. She had to fight to keep from smirking. "Now," Osiris intoned dramatically, walking back up to stand an inch from her face. "By Osiris and Osaris, by Neptinea and Nortunea, by the--" "Yeah, right." Gadget snapped. It was at this time that Gadget created a new scientific theory: It appeared that the speed with which she had delivered her uppercut was directly related to the hang time Osiris' body had before it came crashing down into the machine, snapping the golden disc off. "That was for Dale and Monterey," She stated calmly to the unconscious form of Osiris. She jumped as a chorus of applause sounded from behind her. She looked back to see the Rangers and Dr. Speck on a stack of crates near an open skylight, cheering. "'Atta girl, Gadget-luv!" Monterey's voice boomed proudly. "Floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee!" Dale chimed in. Chip planted a grappling hook with a rope at the edge of the crate, then headed down the rope, the others close behind. "I was worried that we'd be too late." Chip grinned as he approached Gadget. He nodded to the heap of Osiris. "Nice to know that I was wrong about the right thing for once." "But how did you resist, Gadget?" Dr. Speck asked. "You were enthralled when we arrived. I was afraid we wouldn't be able stop him, but you did so yourself. Quite admirably, by the looks of it." He also glanced at Gadget's handiwork. Gadget smiled, her cheeks flushed at the compliment. "Well, it wasn't until he tried to make me forget who my friends are, or that I was a Ranger, that I started to come out of it. But then to try to make me work for him." She shriveled up her nose in disgust. "Ugh." She managed. "He might be good, but he's not *that* good. Anyway, when that happened...I don't know, I guess it unlocked something, and I remembered clearly what I did tonight. I was afraid Osiris might have noticed my flinch as I remembered, but he was busy turning on the machine." She glanced over at Monterey and Dale, then looked down at her toes, embarrassed. "Sorry, guys, I thought you were bedbugs or something. I heard you talking, but I was hearing it as something different, mainly that you guys were all captured, and...well...you get the idea." She tucked her hands behind her back so they wouldn't be fidgeting as much. "Ah, what's a concussion between friends?" Monterey waved it off with a smile. "Just don't talk too loud until the ringin' goes down." Dale nodded and winked. "Only two head shots, Gadget. I've had worse." "Thanks guys!" She darted to them and gave each a strong hug. What about him? Zipper motioned to Osiris with a disdainful look. "Oh, McDugell's boys will put him back in a cell when they get here." Chip replied as he stepped forward to inspect the forced-slumbering hypnotist. "We can hang around until they arrive, just in case `sleeping beauty' here wakes up." "One question, Chip." Dr. Speck stroked his chin. "Any ideas what those items that McDugell showed you were?" "Offhand, I'd say those trinkets were just that--trinkets. Osiris would have liked for us to think he had mystical ties and what-not, but it's smoke and mirrors. He's just a hypnotist, albeit a good one." "Hmmm." Dr. Speck reached down to the floor and picked something up. "It would appear, though, that it will be difficult for him to hypnotise anyone for a while." "How's that?" Dale asked. "Well, the voice is a very important tool for the hypnotism he employs. And you'll find, Dale, that the voice is significantly altered when you're missing these." He smiled and held up some of the teeth he had picked up off the floor. "Golly." Gadget said, a bit impressed. "I did that?" "Yeppers." Dale replied, looking around. "Hey, I bet there's enough here for a necklace!" They all quickly began searching, except for Chip, who just watched Gadget with a smile, and then turned back to Osiris. "Well buddy, I doubt we'll see you for a while, but don't worry." He grinned as they called out whenever a tooth was found. "We'll always have something to remember you by." Gadget smiled warmly as she ran her hands across the smooth wooden floor under her bed. Sure enough, no scratches existed. Dr. Speck had checked out her mind, as he did with the police officers who had had breakdowns, and made sure that everything that shouldn't be there was gone. He had explained to her that there never were any scratches. Only Osiris' programming. She stood back up and walked out to the kitchen. It was dark, and she was a little scared, still shaken up over the whole series of events. But she was determined not to let it haunt her. She defiantly walked through the unlit hallway and into the darkened kitchen, opening the refrigerator. "Triggers, huh?" She mumbled as the light greeted her. Dr. Speck had taken the time to answer all of Gadget's questions, so she now knew more precisely what had happened. She was "instructed" to "rescue" Osiris on the midnight of the day after he was caught. But Osiris wanted a more dramatic touch involved, so he'd decided to build her up to that point. Thus, he had set it so that each time she woke, it activated the first "program". That is to say, Gadget believed she was being attacked by a monster of some kind, and reacted accordingly. The "program" was turned off whenever there was sufficient light. Taking a pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator, she closed the door, but not before saying, "Thank you." to the light inside. She took a cup over to the table and sat down, working it all out in her mind. It was over. But she still shuddered at the thought of someone entering her thoughts like that. Telling her what to do. The feeling of helplessness around her, now that she knew what had happened and been powerless to stop it. No, that wasn't quite true. She *did* break free when Osiris tried to go too far. And it wasn't as if she was alone, after all. Everyone in the Rangers had had their minds messed with. She just had the upgraded version. She chuckled at that, pouring herself some lemonade. As she drank it, her thoughts wandered to her friends. They really had gone to great lengths to help out. She was a little irritated at first, thinking that they didn't believe she was able to look out for herself, but that quickly faded as she came to appreciate their genuine concern. In all honesty, she thought, maybe this will turn out for the best. After watching her deck Osiris with one blow, both Chip and Dale were treating her with a new respect. They had always been incredibly sweet to her, and now she could sense some honest awe from them. Monterey wasn't as surprised. He said he knew she always had it in her. Zipper felt the same, and in fact was hoping that Osiris had taken the one punch, strictly so Gadget could have belted him again. But Chip and Dale, she guessed, never really saw her as the type to fight like that. Not that she liked to, but she would if she had to. She chuckled again, finishing off her cup and rising from the table. "There's a lot they don't know about me." She smiled, for some reason, at that thought as she put the pitcher away and the cup in the sink. On the way back to her room, she made a quick detour to the chipmunks room, and listened just outside of it. Dale's ripping snores filled in the gaps between Chip's deep breaths, creating a sort of musical rhythm. She listened for a minute, not really sure why, and then stole back to her room, where she snuggled up to her pillow. And went fast to sleep. |