“Come on,” Chip said as he jumped off the window seal. “We have to help the rest of them before its too late.”
“Right, Chipper,” Dale said as he and Monterrey jumped. “But, there's no way in.”
“Yes, there is,” replied Chip. “If Abe found a way to get out, maybe we could find the way IN.” He looked up at Zipper. “Zipper, can you fly around and us a way in?”
“Uh-huh,” Zipper replied, saluting bravely. With that he zipped around the warehouse as fast as he could. There was no time to waste.
It wasn't long before Zipper returned, signaling the Rangers to follow him. Zipper led them to the back wall of the warehouse, which had a small mouse-hole in it. Zipper pointed enthusiastically before flying in. Chip and Dale were right behind, and last in was Monterrey. Zipper was small enough walk through casually while the two chipmunks had to crouch a bit. Monterrey, however had to crawl on all fours to get in.
“Egh,” He grunted. “I haven't been this cramped since I had that tour of the great mouse Pharaoh of Egypt!”
“Well, maybe,” Dale laughed. “If you cut back on all that cheese, you'd have more room.” Monterrey was about to reply, but Chip cut him off
“Hush, you two,” Chip whispered as they reached the other side.
The rangers all peaked out of the mouse-hole, to see what they were up against. Seeing the stacks of cages a bit closer up, Chip was able to tell the locks were electric. As it stood, he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Closer to the table where the two separate cages were, Monterrey noticed two cats- queens to be exact, cuddled and sleeping on one another. One was dark gray with a white diamond of fur on her forehead; the other was an orange and yellow tabby, whose stripes looked like flames. Even though they were sleeping, and he was a mouse, Monterrey had to admit- they looked absolutely stunning! Must be some more of his experiments, he figured. Dale was the one to notice the contents of some of the cages.
“Guys,” Dale exclaimed, pointing. “Lookie over there!”
The other rangers looked in the direction Dale pointed in and were equally shocked at what they saw. Only one of them could even be classified as a rodent. One was a boated, gray, tiger tabby cat with curled whiskers and an expensive looking jacket. In a cage to the cat's right, was another cat- but this one was a scrawny, yellows dopey looking alley tomcat, wearing a ratty blue vest and toboggan. To the purple cat's left was a fat mole wearing a red shirt a size or two too small and a yellow hat. Lastly, there was the cage on top of the Gray Tabby. It held a rat, wearing a short sleeved red turtle neck with a black vest and a dark blue hat that covered his eyes. All of them looked like they had given up hope a short while ago.
“Crikey,” Monterrey exclaimed. “It's Fat Cat!”
“And his goons,” Chip finished. “Good eye, Dale.”
“Come on,” Monterrey said. Pushing Chip and Dale out the way so he could get out. “We have to save them, too.”
“WHAT?! B-b-buh- but, they're the bad guys,” Dale replied
“Yeah, but It's like Monterrey said a while back,” countered Chip. “We can't say we're willing to rescue anybody if we're not willing to rescue everybody. Besides, he may come in handy. Come on!”
With that, he snuckhis way over to Fat cat's cell, with the rest of the Rangers right behind him. They were sure to avoid the two queens napping. When they to their cages, they couldn't help feeling a strong mix of pity and disappointment. While it wasn't no surprise to see his henchmen's clothes tattered from one cause or another, Fat Cat always made sure he looked presentable, but his clothes, were just as dirty and torn as Abe's. His fur was just as messy- at least what he could see of it. Considering he periodically rolled over in his sleep. It almost made Chip shiver to think of what Nimnul did to Fat Cat and his goons to render them in such a condition; he'd always wanted to see him behind bars, but not like this.
“Fat Cat,” he whispered. “Psst! Fat Cat!”
When the big gray tabby didn't do any more than stretch and yawn, Dale decided to try.
“HEY, FAT CAT,” he yelled near the top of his lungs.
Dale's idea worked a little too well. While he did manage to wake Fat Cat, he also startled him so that he jumped up, hitting his head on the cage, causing a cascade of panicking animals. Professor Nimnul, who had been working on a small black device dropped it dropped it onto the table, undoing most of his progress. “Doooooh!” He hissed as he looked around to see what had happened. That' when he saw them. He didn't need to see them up close to know they were- those same meddlesome rodents who always ruined his plans!
“Oh, it's you pests again,” He growled. “Well, Luckily I prepared for you little interlopers! Ember! Shimmer! GET THEEMM!!!”
“Yikes,” Dale managed as the queens' eyes sprang open. With that, they all scattered. Shimmer, the queen with the white diamond on her forehead, ran after Monterrey while the Ember, the orange and yellow tabby queen, decided to go after Dale. That left Chip to deal with Fat Cat.
“I never thought I'd be so happy to see you, Rescue Rangers,” Fat Cat said, almost pleading. “Please, you have to get us out.”
“Oh, sure,” Chip scoffed. “You chase us and try to kill us, but when You're the one in danger, it's 'help me- save me, rescue rangers'.”
“Alright! Alright,” Fat Cat yelled. “I admit it. You don't have any reason to free us. Me, especially. But, please- you're the rescue rangers! You have to help me.”
“Hmm...,” Chip said, contemplating.
“Please,” Fat Cat pleaded. “I'll do anything you want. ANYTHING!”
“Anything, huh, Chip asked. “Can you woo those lady cats into leaving my friends alone?”
“What,” Fat Cat gasped. “THEM?! No way!”
“Oh, well,” Chip said starting to walk away.
“No, wait stop,” Fat cat called out, then sighed. “I'll do it.”
“He-heh,” Chip laughed. “Alright!”
“But I can't do a thing crammed in here,” Fat Cat reminded him. “You're going to have to get me out before I can hold up MY end of the Bargain.”
“How?”
“He keeps the remote to the cages in his pocket, Fat Cat answered, pointing towards Nimnul. “But I don't know how you're going to get up there.”
He was right. How WAS he going to get up there? It was then that he saw the two queens had his friends cornered, and he had a brilliant, crazy Idea. I can't believe I'm about to do this, he thought. Dale ran up to Shimmer who had Monterrey cornered and plucked a hair from her tail. The queen hissed and looked back at Chip, who simply pulled down his left lower eyelid and crudely blowing raspberry at her before running towards the other Ember. Chip looked back to see Shimmer poised to pounce- he knew that couldn't be good.
“Excuse me,” Ma'am, Chip said as he scurried under Ember's legs, just as Shimmer pounced.
Ember, distracted by Chip, didn't have any time to react, and Shimmer was taken by surprise and couldn't change her trajectory. Needless to say, Shimmer collided with Ember, sending them both tumbling. When they collected their wits, they saw Chip scurrying towards the cages. There was no way Shimmer and Ember were going to let themselves be bested by some chipmunk, so they gave chase, leaving Chip and Monterrey confused.
“What just happened?” Asked Monterrey.
“I think Chip just saved us.” Dale said. No, WE have to get goin'!”
“Right,” Replied Monterrey. “The wee lad's parents. Let's go.”
With that, the two scurried over to Nimnul, while Chip led the two queens towards Fat Cat. He knew what Chip was doing, and suddenly felt conflicted. He hated him for switching the deal around on him- forcing him to keep up his end of the bargain, which he didn't plan on doing. Then again, he kind of respected him for it. He quickly pulled himself together, and turned back into the suave, sophisticated tabby he prided himself as just as Dale neared his cell; it was lucky the larger animals had the wider spaced bars. Chip quickly dived into Fat Cat's cage just before the two cats caught him. The two queens reached a single paw in, each trying to claw at Chip, but he hid himself behind Fat Cat as he took one the enraged Queen's paws and kissed each one.
“Ladies. Ladies,” Fat Cat smiled. “This isn't any way for such lovely kittens like yourself to act.”
“Peh,” Ember spat, while Shimmer giggled at the comment. “What would you know? You don't tell us how to act? Who the heck are you, anyway?”
“Why, I'm Fat Cat,” Fat Cat answered still maintaining his suaver. “And may I ask your names?”
“I'm Shimmer, the gray queen answered. “And, this is Ember.”
“Hey,” Ember greeted.
“It's a pleasure to meet such beautiful cats such as yourselves,” Fat Cat said with a bow of his head.
As Fat cat studied the queens, he noticed that even their eyes suited their names. Shimmer's blue eyes sparkled more beautifully than any sapphire he'd ever seen, and Ember's red orange eyes looked like tiny balls of fire. He'd never seen queens as beautiful as these two... They really are beautiful.
“So, if you're Fat Cat,” Ember asked. “THE Fat Cat, then what are you doing here?”
“Your 'master' caught me and my boys en route to our latest hideout,” Fat Cat explained, the pain of his loss still showing in his eyes. “Just like that, I went from a powerful, urban Lion, to a washed up kitty.”
“Aww...,” cooed Shimmer. “But what about that little chipmunk you have hiding behind there?”
Thinking fast, Fat Cat came up with the only lie he could.
“He's... a Rescue Ranger,” Fat Cat explained. “But I have him under my Paw, so to speak. He works for me!”
The two queens looked at each other, and decided to hear more. They laid down side by side, their bushy tails brushing along each other's backs.
“Tell us more,” Shimmer asked. “Please...?”
“Okay,” Fat Cat agreed “But only if you promise not hurt...”
“Chip!”
“Yes-Chip!” Fat Cat continued. “Promise not to hurt Chip and I'll tell you all you want to know.”
“Alright fine, we promise,” Amber said, after a pause. “You can go, now little Chip.”
Nervously Chip emerged from behind Fat Cat and scurried out of the cage and over towards Nimnul as Fat Cat started to tell the lie of catching him with some Elephants' peanuts. When Chip caught up with them, they were already climbing up Professor Nimnul's lab coat. Chip decided he'd be better off climbing the table leg. Nimnul was too wrapped up in his new device to notice Dale dive into his lab coat pocket. Luckily, that one had the remote to the cage doors. It was a simple remote with only two buttons and a dial. Dale turned the dial its biggest setting and pushed the green button. All the cage doors clicked and the doors started to creak open. That got Nimnul's attention. He looked up, just as Chip made onto the table, and turned around to see all the cages had been unlocked, and the animals escaping.
“NOOO,” He yelled, as he reached into his pocket, grabbing Dale by mistake.
“WHAT?!? YOU,” He screamed at the rodent in his hand. “I'll Deal with you LATER!!”
With that, he threw Dale in the Cage, and shook Monterrey off. He turned towards his cats.
“Shimmer! Ember! Come here, at once” He bellowed, scooping up Monterrey. “I told you to take care of these pests,” he yelled when the cats stopped at his feet. “After all I've done for you ungrateful fur-balls, you can't even chase a few measly rodents?!?” He threw Monterrey and Chip down at them, dazing the Rangers. “Now, get out! I don't have any use for cats who can't even catch pests!”
The cats looked up at Nimnul in horror, desperately shaking their heads. But, Nimnul was too irate to care. It all came to a head when they tried rubbing themselves against his leg and purring affectionately
“I said,” Nimnul growled, Go AWAY!!” with that, he kicked them away- one at a time “I'm so close! NO ONE'S going to stop me now!!”
Fat Cat, who had managed to pull his henchmen out of their cages, saw him, and was, for the first time in his life, shocked and appalled by how someone else was treated- especially a queen by her . The two cats just laid there, shocked beyond reason at their master's sudden change in behavior. Was this the real him? What were they going to do? They'd never survive out there, spoiled as they were. They just had to face it, they were out on the street again. Their thoughts were cut off as Fat Cat suddenly threw himself at Nimnul's face, clawing him.
While Nimnul was dealing, poorly, with Fat Cat, Dale was trying to calm the other rodents down.
“It's okay everyone! We have everything under control,” he called out to everyone, with his eyes out. “I'm with the Rescue Rangers!”
“The Rescue Rangers,” A male voice parroted. “You're with the rescue Rangers!? Honey, the Rescue Rangers are here!”
“Yep,” Dale smiled. “Me and My pals are gonna get you out of here.”
At that, two mice emerged from the crowd- a male and female. The male looked all to familiar, brown mouse, with blue eyes. The female's green eyes were familiar as well, but she was gray.
“You- You're Abe's Parents,” Dale asked, the look of a revelation on his face. “The Rodenskis?!”
“Yes,” pleaded Mrs. Rodentski. “You know Abe? Is he okay?”
“He's... resting at our place,” Dale answered. “We'll get you to him when we get out of here.”
With that, he tried to pry open the door but it didn't budge.
“It won't open,” Mr. Rodenski said. “It's too heavy for even all of us. The only things strong enough to open it are that Human, and apparently, that monstrosity he built.”
“But there's someone else,” Dale said, having an idea. “Zipper!!”
As if on cue, Zipper flew in and stopped in front of Dales face.
“Quick! Zipper,” Dale said. “Go get Monty! We need his help!”
“Uh-huh,” Zipper replied, saluting. With that he flew back out of the cage.
“And now...,” Dale said, watching him fly away. “We wait.”
Meanwhile Nimnul had just managed to get Fat Cat off of him.
“How DARE you,” Fat Cat hissed as he was thrown to the floor, only to land on all fours- next to his new found queens.
Though his face was badly clawed, and his animals were gone, he was not done, he still had the last and final test to perform, then he'd be golden. While Chip and Monterrey were still gathering their wits, Zipper landed on Monterrey's shoulder shouting and buzzing while pointing up at the table.
Zipper here says Dale needs some help, Monterrey said looking up. Some STRONG help!
With that, he and Chip threw themselves at the table leg and scurried up. While they were on their way, Nimnul looked at his last cage, and saw Dale. He knew immediately who his last test subjects would be. With a twisted smile, he pointed the device he was working on, a remote to his multi armed robot, at Dale and pressed a button. The machine reached a single arm into the cage and grabbed Dale and pulled him out.
“Wha- Hey,” he screamed, struggling. “Monterrey! Chip! HAALLP!!!”
When Monterrey and Chip got to the top of the table, they saw Dale in the clutches of Nimnul's Machine.
They gasped. “Dale!”
“You get the cages,” Monterrey, Chip said urgently. “I'll after Dale!”
“Right,” Monterrey said, running towards the nearest one. “Okay, everyone stand back and let Ol' Monterrey Jack work his magic.”
With that, he cracked his knuckles and started to push the door open, with great effort, while Chip made his way over to the machine that had Dale. Nimnul knew what they were trying to do. But it didn't matter; all things considered, he was actually winning. He didn't even care that Monterrey had let all the mice out of one cage, and was going to work on the other one.
“You're too late you little pests,” Nimnul laughed. “All I need is this test, and this Machine is totally fool proof!! So, go ahead- 'cause I win! I finally WIN!!”
“CHIP! HELP,” Dale screamed at the top of his lungs as the needle drew nearer to his side. “I'm afraid of needles!”
Chip looked up at the machine, and realized Nimnul was right. It was a lot more well built than his other machines. His eyes darted around, looking for something, ANYTHING. Then he spotted a single black wire coming from out of the machine's base
“That's it!”
With that, he slid down the table leg and scurried over to the wire. Even when Nimnul's upped the ante, Chip thought. He's still Nimnul. Even more so since Nimnul didn't even notice what he was doing. Chip reached the wire and started to desperately gnaw the wire. He only stopped when a charge ran through his body. He and Monterrey were working desperately on their respective jobs, but both seemed to pause when a blood curdling scream filled the air. As strained and gargled as the scream was, they recognized that voice. Monterrey looked back and saw, Dale's limp form convulsing and twitching- his face frozen in a state of pain and fear. Only small sharp breaths escaped his gaping wide mouth.
“Dale!!”
