# Chapter 3 - Possible Complications

Author: Radical Gopher
Tags: Adventure, Canine, Human, No-Yiff, Plot Development, Rodent

#4 of Rescued Rangers

I originally started this as a story jam, but no one submitted other chapters. So, here's chapter three.&nbsp; Enjoy.  
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RESCUED RANGERS - Chapter III: Possible Complications

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; From their hiding places, the Rangers watched as the pair of humans moved around the old barge, apparently looking for clues.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't know, Kim," the boy observed.&nbsp; "This place looks kind of... I don't know, skanky for one of Drakon's hideouts."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't think he was hiding out here, Ron.&nbsp; The tip Wade got was that some of his men were seen here a day or two ago."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why here?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good question.&nbsp; Word on the street is that Drakon needed something important to his current scheme."&nbsp; She was interrupted by an odd musical page tone.&nbsp; Pulling a video communicator from her pocket she thumbed the answer button.&nbsp; "What's the sitch Wade?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Got some 411 on that barge for you.&nbsp; It's been abandoned there for about the last six years.&nbsp; Word is some homeless dude named Fagin moved in a couple years ago and turned it into a home for stray dogs."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Any criminal record?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Nothing significant... vagrancy, trespassing, that kind of thing.&nbsp; He apparently makes a living for himself as a scrounger, with some help from his dogs."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So... He's created himself a Kennel of Crime?" asked Ron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No, just a Habitat for Hounds."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good one, Wade!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kim groaned.&nbsp; "Anything else?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, police thought he might have been involved in a kidnapping last year, but it turned out he was the one who rescued the girl."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kim thought for a moment. "You said he was a scrounger, huh?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah," Wade replied.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Where exactly was the courier for Advanced Astrophysics mugged?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Three blocks down and six over from where you are now... Am I thinking what you're thinking?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Probably," Kim replied.&nbsp; "We know Drakon's thugs were responsible for the mugging and that they didn't get what they were after..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...because the courier dropped it down a storm drain.&nbsp; You think this Fagin guy found it?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Can you think of another reason they'd be seen around here?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Off hand... No!&nbsp; Let me run a quick scan for stray energy signatures."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nodding, the girl held out the small device and turned in a slow circle.&nbsp; A grid pattern of light was projected from one end of the communicator.&nbsp; Finishing her turn, she switched off the beam and looked once more at the image of Wade.&nbsp; "Find anything?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes," the 10-year-old genius replied.&nbsp; "There is an unusually high concentration of tachyon particles in one corner."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So... what exactly does that mean?" asked Ron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It means," the girl replied, "that this Fagin character must have found and collected the temporal circuit breaker then was collected himself by Doctor Drakon.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "There's something else here that seems unusual," said Wade.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You appear to be surrounded by a rather odd assortment of vermin?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Odd in what way?" Kim asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well... you've got a chipmunk, a mouse, a rat, a hamster, a bat and a chihuahua."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey man!&nbsp; Who chu callin' a vermin!" snarled Tito.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At the sound of the sharp barking both teens looked up.&nbsp; They spotted the small dog standing near one bulkhead.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Aww... look at the cute little doggie," Kim said going down on one knee and beckoning to Tito.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Careful KP..." warned the boy.&nbsp; "He's wearing a bandana.&nbsp; He could be hardcore."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That's a sweatband Ron, and he's probably one of Fagin's dogs," she observed.&nbsp;&nbsp; She softly whistled to the chihuahua.&nbsp; Tito abruptly stopped barking and slowly began to edge forward towards Kim.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey!" whispered Dale.&nbsp; "Where does he think he's going?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's her whistling," Foxglove replied.&nbsp; "Canines often respond to certain frequencies of sound the way cats do to catnip."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well... I've got ears but I don't hear anything unusual."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's there sugar, trust me," she replied.&nbsp; "I know my sub-sonics."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tito padded up to Kim and sniffed tentatively at her hand.&nbsp; She reached between his ears and began skritching the back of his head.&nbsp; In response the chihuahua's tongue lolled out, his legs went rubbery and his tail started to wag.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That's a good doggie... nice doggie," she cooed.&nbsp; "Wade... can you scan the pooch for me, see what kind of readings you get?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "On it!" The scanning beam painted its way across Tito for about two seconds.&nbsp; "Seems like the little guy's loaded with residual tachyon energy.&nbsp; Our circuit breaker was definitely here."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gadget peeked out from her hiding place, thoroughly impressed by the technology she saw and a little over-eager to get a closer look.&nbsp; Kim glanced up from the communicator in time to see her as she ducked back behind a dilapidated sofa.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Am I seeing things... or was that a mouse wearing coveralls and goggles?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I didn't see," Wade replied.&nbsp; "Try holding up your communicator and I'll run a full spectrum scan."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kim held the device in front of her.&nbsp; It hummed for about ten seconds then beeped three times.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Whoa!&nbsp; Talk about your sci-fi theatre weirdness!" Wade muttered.&nbsp; "Your guests are not only wearing clothes, they're all running around on two legs and they have thumbs!&nbsp; All except the chihuahua that is."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What do thumbs have to do with anything?" asked Ron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It means the creatures surrounding you are capable of manipulating their environment.&nbsp; A clear indication of higher order sentient capability."&nbsp; Ron stared at the communicator, his face a mask of utter confusion.&nbsp; Wade sighed.&nbsp; "It means they're smart."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How smart?" he asked nervously.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Human level at least," the genius geek replied&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I knew it!" Stoppable screeched, his voice rising a full octave towards 'panic mode.'&nbsp; "Alien pod mice from Mars... and I bet they all have their own tiny motorcycles of death too!"&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Chill Ron!" Kim responded.&nbsp; "If they wanted to hurt us they would have done it by now."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ya hear that, mate!" Monty said, nudging Chip with his elbow.&nbsp; "I think that Sheila knows we're here."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Somehow, I'm not all that surprised." Chip replied.&nbsp; "I think we have ourselves a genuine, first contact situation here."&nbsp; Adjusting his hat, the chipmunk took a deep breath and walked out into the open.&nbsp; He stopped long enough to make eye contact with the girl, then took off his hat and bowed formally.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Greetings!"&nbsp; I'm Chip, and my friends and I are called the Rescue Rangers!"&nbsp; He paused to wait for an answer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kim..." Ron whispered nervously,&nbsp; "he's chittering at us.&nbsp; They always chitter just before they charge."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Would you get a grip?&nbsp; This is not Camp Wannaweep and he's not going to charge."&nbsp; Kim looked down at her communicator.&nbsp; "Wade... I think the little guy is trying to talk to us.&nbsp; Can you help?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Working on it."&nbsp; There was a rapid clacking as the geek worked his keyboard.&nbsp; "Got it!&nbsp; Wow!&nbsp; He's using standard English, but at a much higher frequency range than we can understand.&nbsp; I'll modify your communicator so it can translate."&nbsp; Again, the device hummed for a few moments, then beeped.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \*

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So let me get this straight," Kim reiterated looking at the half-dozen rodents that surrounded her as she sat cross-legged on the floor.&nbsp; "You guys solve crimes?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Only when we're not saving the world," boasted Dale who promptly got a rap on the head from Chip. "OW!&nbsp; What's the idea?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I just wanna make sure your head isn't going to get too big for your neck, silly!"&nbsp; Chip looked back up at Kim.&nbsp; "Actually, we just try to focus on the small stuff that the police are too busy to deal with."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This case doesn't exactly fit the description of what you call 'small stuff','" K.P. responded.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tell me about it," said Gadget.&nbsp; "It seams like every other case we take on turns out to be bigger than we originally thought."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sort of like looking for missing pooches and uncovering high tech robbery," observed Ron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Exactly," mouse agreed. "Though I guess when you consider the probability factors and extrapolate pre-ordinance as a theoretical constant, then the random element can be pretty well disregarded."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You sound a lot like our friend Wade, especially after too many mocha java milk-shakes."&nbsp; Ron gave Gadget a suspicions sideways look.&nbsp; "You two aren't related, are you?"&nbsp; Everyone save Dale and Ron slapped the palm of their hands against their foreheads, groaning.&nbsp; Wade simply dropped his head against his keyboard.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'd say its more likely that you and Dale are related," teased Foxglove.&nbsp; The hamster responded by giving her a prolonged raspberry.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So... what now?" asked Tammy.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chip thought for a moment.&nbsp; "We're both essentially working the same case.&nbsp; Maybe it would be to our advantage to join forces."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I was thinking the same thing," Kim responded.&nbsp; "We can focus on the technical end and you can keep working the missing canine side.&nbsp; All we'd really need to do is keep each other appraised of what each group has found."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There was a sharp chittering sound from the front pocket of Ron's pants.&nbsp; Reaching down, he pulled a small, pink shape from it and held the creature up to his ear.&nbsp; "You say something Rufus?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The naked mole rat began chittering, pointing to both Kim and the Rangers.&nbsp; Ron looked over at K.P.&nbsp; "Rufus doesn't think it's a good idea to split our forces.&nbsp; Not if Doctor Drakon already has possession of the temporal circuit thingy."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We don't know that he does... just that he was looking for it," replied Chip.&nbsp; "Oh, and by the way, who's your friend?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This is Rufus," Ron smiled, holding out the mole rat for all to see.&nbsp; "He and I have been best buds since kindergarten."&nbsp;&nbsp; Rufus waved at the Rangers, chittering briefly and ending his introduction with a squeaky "HIYA."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What did he just say?" asked Dale

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Rufus was saying hi," Ron supplied.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He did?" Dale observed.&nbsp; "Well I could hardly understand him at all."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I did," said Foxglove.&nbsp; With that she started chittering herself.&nbsp; Rufus responded by jumping down from Ron's hand and going up to the bat.&nbsp; The two of them conversed for a moment before the mole rat grabbed her paw and begin pumping it vigorously in greeting.&nbsp; Dale merely looked over and scratched his head.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What's that all about?" he asked

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Our new friend Rufus communicates in a sub-sonic range of speech, similar to bat-speakbut at a different frequency," Foxglove explained.&nbsp; Though he does have a slight speech impediment because of his teeth."&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Interesting," said Wade.&nbsp; "If Ron can understand Rufus, and Rufus can understand the bat..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Foxglove," she corrected him."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Uh... Right... Foxglove," he replied.&nbsp; "I wonder if she can talk to Ron?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, there's one way to find out," Foxglove replied.&nbsp; She immediately turned toward Ron and chattered at him.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Really... Well I don't know if you'd call us a couple... More like a team," the boy responded.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What's she saying?" Kim asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Please KP.&nbsp; This is a private conversation," he said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "UH BOY!" muttered Rufus

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It looks like your friend Ron is genetically wired for certain, sub-sonic tones," Gadget observed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, it would explain why dog-whistles give him a headache." Kim replied with a quirky smile.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Alright then... If we're going to follow Rufus' suggestion, we need to map out our next moves."&nbsp; Chip looked up at the two humans.&nbsp; "You were talking earlier about some kind of tachyons and a temporal circuit breaker?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes," the red-haired girl replied.&nbsp; "It was a circuit card stolen from a company called Advanced Astrophysics.&nbsp; It's supposed to be a critical component in some top secret government project."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And you think it was here?" asked Gadget.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We know it was here.&nbsp; There's a tachyon trail and residual particles all over the place, including some on your canine friend "

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Man... I knew I shudda taken a bath last month," muttered the chihuahua.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So what did this circuit card look like?" asked Monty.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kim reached into a pocket of her parachute pants and pulled out a photo.&nbsp; "This is what we're looking for."&nbsp; Everyone gathered around and took a look.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey... Is that wha' chu lookin' for?? Tito asked&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kim nodded.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, why didn' chu ask?&nbsp; Frankie found sometin like it a couple a days ago over by the storm drain.&nbsp; It was in his stash until Fagan saw it and put it in the lockbox."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What did Frankie want with it?" asked Ron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Thought he could use it ta fix his radio.&nbsp; He ain't happy unless he can get his weekly dose of culture," Tito explained.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "When Fagan saw it he noticed there was some gold and platinum in it.&nbsp; Thought we could pawn it and get enough to buy a couple weeks worth o' groceries and a Moe Zart album fer Francis."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Do you know where Fagan kept this lockbox?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah," the chihuahua replied carefully, "But I don' know... That's our big stash, man.&nbsp; Dodger and the others might not like it if I showed chu."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well, you're homies were kidnapped," Chip pointed out, "and if you want us to find them and whoever took them, then we need your help."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tito pursed his lips slightly and closed one eye, twisting his head in thought.&nbsp; After a moment or two he snorted slightly.&nbsp; "HOKAY! I'll show chu."&nbsp; He padded up the steps and out onto the deck, followed by Kim, Ron and a small squad of rodents.&nbsp; The sun had set and the river reflected city lights up toward the boat, providing a modest amount of illumination.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Here chu go!" Tito said, stopping next to a cleat.&nbsp; From it a half-inch rope hung over the side and disappeared into the water.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Where is it?" Dale asked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Down there!" replied the chihuahua.&nbsp; "Pretty smart.&nbsp; Fagan called it our Left Bank Bank."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't get it," muttered Ron

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ever been to Paris, mate?" asked Monty.&nbsp; Ron shook his head.&nbsp; "Then you wouldn't."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Golly!" Gadget exclaimed.&nbsp; "I think your circuit card might still be here!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What do you mean?" asked Kim

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "She means that if that lockbox is watertight..." Wade interjected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It is," Tito confirmed.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And it's deep enough under water, then Drakon's goons wouldn't have been able to detect the circuit card."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why not?" asked Ron.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The water would have disbursed the tachyons.&nbsp; That's why they couldn't track it through the sewers."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah... That was kind of a bitch," said a distinctive female voice.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everyone turned.&nbsp; There, standing on the dilapidated pier were half a dozen ninja goons accompanied by a shapely, raven-haired woman with a pale green complexion.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "SHEGO!" exclaimed Ron and Kim in one voice.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hi Kimmy!" she taunted.&nbsp; "Planning on opening your own pet store?"

&nbsp;

...TO BE CONTINUED

&nbsp; &nbsp;

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/ynZQKDPm
Part of the series Rescued Rangers
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