The van began accelerating, and the wind became almost unbearable. But after about an hour the van came to a stop at the shack and everyone got out. The freed rodents and the Rescue Rangers (except Chip, who was still unconscious) watched as they all went into the shack. “Now what luv?” said Monty.

“Well, we still need to free the other rodents… Hmmm… I’ve got it! They work for cheese, right?” said Gadget.

“Ya, and ol’ Nimnul gives ‘em plenty!”

“Well, how does he do it?”

“Well, he uses that thingy in his van.”

“Exactly, so if we damage, or destroy the cheese ray, they will have no reason to work for him.”

“Now your thinkin’ luv! But how do we destroy it?”

“And how do we keep from having Nimnul spin the story against us?”, said Foxy?

“Good point. Hmmm…”

*Groan*, Chip was stirring in the Ranger Wing. “Well,” Monty said, “looks like we have more pressing matters at hand.”

They all went to look as Chip slowly came to. When he was fully awake, he looked around at the people in astonishment, then he looked straight at Dale, sat up, bopped him on the head (Bongo klunk sound) “What’d you do that for?”

“Uh, sorry, Chip. I got a little carried away.”

“Stupid.”

“Chip!” said Gadget.

“Oh, hi Gadget. What are you doing here?”

“Well, actually, I’m rescuing you. Sortof.”

“Rescuing me? From what?”

“Actually, Nimnul’s mind control?”

“He was controlling my mind?”

“Ya, he used a special thingy, like that one behind you,” pointing at the remote in the back seat of the Wing.

“He was? Hmm, not at all like the last time that happened.”

“Well, it was kind of different. He did it in such a way that you did so voluntarily. You are aware that you where helping him to rob a bank.”

“So THAT’s why we kept doing our ‘errands’ at banks. Explains a lot.”

“Well, either way we have to rescue the other rodents.”

“And stop Nimnul from robbing any more banks,” said Chip, fixing his fedora on his head.

Quietly, the ranger plane took to the air and began to higher ground to stay out of sight of Nimnul. Drifting silently over the city, using only the balloon for lift to save energy, the Rangers discussed their plan to rescue the other rodents and end Nimnul’s crime spree…

“So here’s our plan. First we destroy the cheese ray and then convince all the rodents that they where just being used to rob from banks,” Gadget said,

“Sounds good. Any idea how to do it?” asked Chip.

“That’s been the hard part. We where kinda hoping that you might be able to fill us in there,” said Foxy.

“Hmm… Give me a moment to think about this one,” replied Chip.

They sat there, Chip mumbling to himself, trying out different plans, testing the outcomes. Every once and a while Chip would pipe up and throw a suggestion, which was quickly thrown down with an insight from Gadget, Monty, or Foxy. Another hour passed, it seemed as though the situation was hopeless.

“Golly, I have absolutely no idea how to convince a small mob of rodents that Nimnul is evil,” said Gadget.

“We’ll think of something. I promise Gadget,” replied Chip.

As the sun began to rise over the city, Dale and Foxy where sleeping in the back, cuddled together in hopes of fighting off the fozen dawn. Gadget was sleeping, wrapped up in Monty’s jacket with Zipper in the pocket, and Chip and Monterey sat awake, maintaining the Ranger Wing’s position and sleepily considering the possibilities.

“Why not just tell them, ‘it’s just cheese, get over it’,” Chip suggested.

“Because with most rodents cheese is like a slow rabbit to a hungry dingo,” returned Monty.

Chip sighed. “It’s hopeless, we’re never gonna figure this out,”

“Ah, don’t go gettin all blue about this mate. We come up with somethin’ or my name ain’t Monterey Jack!”

“Well that’s reassuring, unless you’ve spent some time at the courthouse without telling any of us,” Chip said with a cold, sleepy smile.

*To Be Continued...*