-- Chapter 9: ...And a Time for Goodbyes --

               Hold me, hold me tight, I'm falling
                 Far away, distant voices calling
              I'm so cold, I need you darling, yeah

                  I was down, but now I'm flying
                 Straight across the great divide
          I know you're crying, but I'll stop you crying
           When I see you, I see you on the other side
           Yes, I'll see you, see you on the other side

                              "See You on the Other Side" -- Ozzy Ozborne


     Gadget blinked.
     She was sitting in the Ranger Wing. Just like that. The last thing she 
remembered was being hauled away in a net with Kan. Then she blinked, and here she 
was in the pilot seat. The sound of the ocean below the ledge floated up to her 
ears, further signifying that she had somehow been rescued from that disastrous 
situation.
     Glancing about, her jaw dropped as she saw that everyone else was in the
Ranger Wing as well. Kan was next to her, then Zipper and her father. The back seat
was crammed with Dale, Monterey, and Tham. Chip was sprawled out across their laps, 
looking worse for wear. Tham too, she noticed, looked extremely tired.
     Apparently, she wasn't the only one who was surprised at the sudden shift in
location.
     "Crikey!" Monterey shouted, "Where are we?!"
     "We're alive?!" Dale blinked.
     "What--"
     "Who--"
     "Where--"
     "SHUT UP!" Tham screamed. "Chip needs to get to a hospital, and now! The
poison in his system has already shut down his consciousness, and his respiratory 
system won't be far behind!"
     "Chip?" Gadget whispered, seeing the lack of movement from the chipmunk. She
immediately turned to the controls, starting the Ranger Wing up and taking off. 
"Where's the hospital?!"
     "Closest one with the facilities we need is located on the mainland, at the 
Wong Thong Clinic. Fly due west, and hurry." Tham looked out over the ocean as 
Gadget squeezed every drop of speed she could manage from the engines.
     "Same one I was at," Geegaw mused.
     "Hey wait a minute!" Monterey looked around again. "What in the name of
dancin' dingoes happened back there!? I was lookin' down the business end of katana
last I remember, and then we're all in the Wing here!"
     Dale glanced at Tham, who was still staring out over the ocean, then turned to
Monterey. "Are you complaining?"
     "Crikey, no!"
     "Then let's worry about it after we get Chip to the hospital," Kan stated, 
leaning back over and gently running her hand along the edge of the Chip's brow. 
"He's very hot. This isn't good...."
     Fighting back her frustration, Gadget leaned forward over the steering wheel
with determination, as if that would somehow urge the Wing on faster. What was going
on? What had happened? She wanted answers, but they could wait. Chip couldn't.
     After what seemed like forever, Gadget finally saw the lights of the city,
glimmering brightly in the darkness like a beacon of hope.
     "Hold on, Chip," she whispered. "You're not dead yet."
     With a swift descent, Gadget followed Tham and Geegaw's directions, until she
landed on the roof of a tall hospital. One section of it, tucked away behind a 
series of ventilation and heating shafts, was cleared away and acted as a landing 
pad for animals and birds who were part of the animal hospital staff.
     Upon touchdown, Gadget hopped out and informed the waiting personnel the
emergency. As a stretcher was brought out, Tham quickly gave a detailed description
to the doctor about Chip's symptoms and the possible make-up of the poison.
     "Okay, got it," the doctor nodded. "Good thing you got him here so quickly.
We'll take care of it."
     Chip was quickly rushed off, Kan, Zipper, and Gadget all at his side. Geegaw
and Monterey moved the Ranger Wing out of the emergency area to a more secluded spot
of the roof, leaving Dale and Tham alone by the entrance.
     "I take it your parents are still at rest?" Dale asked politely, figuring the 
term "dead" might be the wrong word to use.
     Tham silently nodded.
     They both looked out over the city for a moment.
     "Thank you," Tham finally said.
     Dale blinked. "Thank *me*? I should be thanking *you*, Tham. You saved us."
     But Tham shook his head. "*You* saved *me*, Dale. If you and Zipper hadn't
berated me like that, I might never have realized how obsessed I was. Making that 
wish, for my parents to be alive again..." He shuddered. "I may have endangered my 
own afterlife by tampering with theirs. Again, thank you."
     Dale turned to Tham, and smiled. "Hey... I may not be a brain surgeon, but I
knew you were just lost in your grief. I couldn't force you to wish us outta there,
you know."
     "You tried." Tham gave a small laugh.
     Dale nodded. "So I did. Good thing, too, I guess."
     They watched the cityscape in silence for a moment more.
     "You know," Tham said quietly, "I came very close to wishing for my parents."
     "What do you mean?"
     "I hadn't decided against it until the last second. I had been planning it for 
so long, and was so close to finally achieving it, it was hard to let go. But then I
remembered something my parents often told me. That a person honors the dead by 
rejoicing in the living."
     Dale nodded, his gaze still fixed on the lights around and below them. "Sounds
like good advice."
     "Everything they told me was good advice." Tham sighed. "I'll miss them."
     "Are you going to be okay?"
     "Yes... I just need some time to sort through my emotions, I guess." He paused.
"Why didn't you say something to the others? Or Zipper, for that matter?"
     Dale smirked. "We've never believed in yelling about something that's past," he
glanced back to the door they had rushed Chip through, "especially when something in
the present is much more important."
     "A wise ideal."
     "It works for us, anyway."
     Silence again for a few minutes.
     "Well," Dale turned away from the view and headed back over to the
entranceway. "I'm going to join the others. You coming?"
     "In a minute Dale," Tham replied. "Go on, I'll catch up later."
     Shrugging, Dale headed off into the hospital as Tham settled himself down on
the roof. The early morning was beginning, with the first traces of the rising sun 
glowing behind the mountains, its rays reaching up and gracing the deep blue sky, 
still bright with the moon and stars.
     "As the sun always rises," Tham mumbled to himself, coming to a decision, "so
too, must it eventually set."

     Chip was in the hospital for the next few days, slowing recovering from the
poisoned dart. The doctors had neutralized it, but it had still sapped him of his 
vitality, something only straight bed rest could restore. He grumbled and fussed, 
never liking to be forced to stay in one place for too long, but the rest of the 
Rangers wouldn't hear of it. He gave in to them, but really couldn't complain too 
much. After all, it wasn't like he was the only member of the team in need of 
medical treatment.
     Monterey's chest bruises were still swollen, and the doctor's were actually
amazed he hadn't cracked any ribs, let alone broken them. Monterey assured them it 
was due to his thick bones, but the rest of the group wagered it to be more likely 
the "cushioning" around his abdomen.
     Even though Zipper's arm was properly set, the mad run through the palace had
inflamed it once again. He was also required to spend some time in the hospital. The
staff put him in the same room as Chip, so they were both grateful for the other's 
company.
     They were also grateful to learn that everyone else had only received minor 
cuts and bruises. Gadget and Kan had been bumped around a little as they were 
dragged across the floor, but nothing serious. Geegaw's only pain was from his leg, 
but that was a given, considering the injury that gave him the limp years ago. Tham 
and Dale had emerged the best of the bunch, with just some bumps and scrapes.
     During Chip and Zipper's time in the hospital, Tham and Geegaw, with some
help from Kan, presented the Time Blade to the family as the proof the Tham was the
rightful head of the clan. This surprised everyone, but not nearly as much as Tham's
announcement that the Shandi Clan was no more.
     He had realized that they would never be able to fully sever ties with the
Yakuza, and that in this case, it was better to just disband the Clan (which held 
very few blood relatives, to be honest), and officially dissolve the Clan forever. 
This surprised even Kan and Geegaw, who had thought he really wanted to try and 
purge the Clan of its criminal traits.
     "Most of them *are* criminals," he explained. "This gives those who aren't the
chance to get out while they can, without any loss of honor."
     The end of the Shandi Clan also proved to be the end of the Furfoot Clan, as 
the Furfoot got all of their financial backing from the resources of the Shandi 
Clan. Unable to afford their operations, the Furfoot Clan was quickly broken by what
they had strived so hard to join: the Yakuza. The Japanese crime ring had no need 
for members unable to support themselves.
     Geegaw was worried some of the ex-clan members might seek revenge, but Kan
dissuaded that notion.
     "It would be pointless," she said, a trace of respect in her voice for Tham 
now. "Tham had the right to do as he pleased, and exercised that right. Trying to 
take vengeance on him will only draw the wrath of several other clans, ones who have
respected Tham's decision and support it."
     Chip guessed that with the lack of supplies and resources from Japan, the 
Furfoot in the States would find their operations increasingly difficult to 
maintain.
     "A few selected strikes," he told Zipper, "and they'll be out of business 
again. I told you this was the right thing to do."
     Yeah, Zipper winked, never mind the fact that we also managed to not only help
Gadget find her father, but also helped Tham make peace with his past.
     "All in a day's work, Zip," Chip winked.
     Zipper was allowed to leave first, the doctor's having done all they could for 
his shoulder. Chip still was required to remain in bed for a few more days, until 
the staff was positive the poison was out of his system. He didn't mind that much 
anymore, really. His friends stopped in all the time to catch him up on what was 
happening, and discussing plans for going back home soon.
     All in all, it seemed like a nice way to complete an adventure. Still, he had
the nagging feeling that he was forgetting a couple things.
     Late that night, when he was all alone in his darkened room, one of those 
things came for a visit.
     "Hello, Chip."
     Chip slowly opened his eyes, the pupils quickly adjusting to the low light.
     "Hello, Chan," Chip stated, refusing to let any fright show.
     The mouse stood over him, the black goatee as trimmed and neat as ever. Chan
was wearing his katana, but hadn't drawn it yet. Chip figured that if he yelled for
help, Chan would have killed him before the word escaped his mouth.
     "Good to see that you've almost recovered," Chan said calmly, pulling a chair
over and sitting down.
     "I'll bet you're ecstatic over it," Chip replied dryly. He didn't like it when
people tried to intimate him. "If you're going to kill me, at least have the decency
to do it now, and stop beating around the bush."
     Chan chuckled. "Impatient for death, Chip? Considering how close you came,
I'm surprised you'd want to go back so quickly."
     "I've already been to the afterlife," Chip grumbled. "And if I'm going to the
celestial bureaucracy again, I'd just as soon leave now to get a jump on the lines."
     Chan smirked and leaned back. "Relax, Chip. You think I'd have stopped by to
chat if I wanted you dead?"
     "Tham did mention something about making me suffer first." Chip shifted himself
up to a sitting position. "Is that what you came here for?"
     "No. I came here to make sure you knew something."
     "And what might that be?"
     Chan actually gave a pleasant smile. "I'm giving you your life back."
     "Excuse me?"
     "I had claimed your death." Chan clasped his hands together in front of him.
"You really did upset me with that sucker punch in the tavern. My honor dictates 
that you pay with your life. But the time, place, and circumstances should have 
been my choosing." He shrugged. "Best I could manage was to get you to fall to 
your death in that pit."
     Chip closed his eyes and swallowed hard, remembering just how close he and
Dale had come to being permanently removed from the gameboard on that one.
     "But you lived. As did Dale, for which I am grateful," Chan continued. "And
then there was that poisoned dart. Even though I didn't fire it, it would have sated
me to know that your death would have been slow and torturous. I can only imagine 
your agony as the poison raced through your veins, stealing your strength as you 
watched your friends being captured, and knowing there was nothing you could do 
about it. Yes, that would have sufficed," Chan nodded slowly.
     Chip just kept a steady gaze fixed on Chan, waiting.
     "But you didn't die," Chan sighed. "And what's more, you escaped with your
friends, and succeeded in your mission to regain Tham's position as head of the 
now-defunct Clan."
     "That must have been hard for you," Chip said sarcastically.
     Chan shrugged, either not picking up on the tone of voice or ignoring it. "The
Shandi Clan really did die with Tham's parents. The Furfoot Clan never was my home.
I began to realize that more every day that passed."
     Chip nodded slowly, remembering the conversation he had heard Chan having
with another mouse in the dungeons.
     "And now," Chan looked around, "well, I guess I'm free."
     "Free?"
     "Free from all the ties that bound me. They've all been severed. With the 
Furfoot Clan basically disbanded, the members are pretty much just going to join 
other Clans. Some are even staying on with Tham to make a new one."
     "A new Clan?" Chip asked. "Tham?"
     Chan nodded. "Tham's basically starting from scratch. A new name, a new
insignia, a new brotherhood so to speak. Oh, it won't be nearly as powerful as the 
Shandi Clan was, but that's not important to Tham. He's just looking for a family."
Chan chuckled. "Who knows? Perhaps in forty more generations his descendants will 
look to his spirit for guidance and wisdom."
     "He's got enough of it to go around." Chip managed to crack a smile.
     "Yes, plenty of honor." Chan stroked his chin. "Which brings me back to why I
visited you. As I said, I'm free. In your case, you have survived my attempt to kill
you, and other's attempts after that, proving to be at least a worthy adversary. In 
any case, however, my honor is sated, and I willfully forfeit the right to your 
death."
     Chip could only chuckle, for fear of saying anything would be taken the wrong
way and put him back in the honor debt with Chan.
     "So, Chip-san, I bid you farewell." Chan stood up and bowed. "Our paths may
cross again in the future, and if so, rest assured I will not try to kill you 
unless you give me just cause."
     "Thanks." Chip bowed his head as much as he could from his sitting position. "I
take it you're going off on your own?"
     Chan nodded and walked back to the door. "Like the wandering ronin of old, my
fate is solely my own now. No master, no lord, no Clan. Only my own code of honor 
and purpose to guide me." He paused, glancing back to Chip. "Perhaps...perhaps we 
were meant to encounter each other. This may have been a message from fate. I have 
heard it well. Have you?"
     Chip thought for a moment, thinking what being nearly killed by Chan may have
accomplished. "I don't know."
     Chan smiled. "Then maybe you're not ready to listen to it yet. Someday, that
might change." He nodded and silently slipped out the door.
     Chip breathed a sigh of relief as he leaned back in his bed. He was impressed
that he had actually managed to look nonchalant throughout the conversation. He was
half-expecting Chan to leap to attack at any second, but the mouse never even 
reached for his weapon. Maybe Chan's sense of self-purpose and honor was more 
developed than he thought. He mused on that as he laid back, going over the past 
week in his mind.
     Maybe fate had arranged that meeting, Chip wondered, so Chan could escape
from the cycle of vengeance without loss of honor, but what about me? Was there 
something for me to learn from this, or was it strictly for Chan's benefit?
     Turning the thought over in his mind, the only thing he could point to as a
result from Chan's "help" was the trip to the celestial bureaucracy. Was there 
something about that he was missing? Dale and he had discussed it a few nights ago.
They agreed to keep quiet about it for a little while longer, until they figured out
why Dale had that dream with Geegaw. Chip had told Dale about his dream, and they 
doubted it was just coincidence.
     Geegaw. Gadget's father came to mind again. Why?
     "It was something about his story he told us back at the cabin..." Chip thought
back, slowly putting the last corner pieces of this puzzle together.

     "Well, the others will be here soon," Kan smiled as Chip packed up his bags.
"Too bad you had to give the gown back to the hospital, it really showed off your 
thighs."
     Chip turned a beet red, but tried to act casual. Gadget, who had accompanied
Kan and Tham on this visit, also blushed a little, having to agree with Kan. Tham 
rolled his eyes and leaned back against the wall.
     "Well, Kan, at least you haven't changed a bit," he sighed.
     Kan turned to him with a patronizing smirk. "Neither have you, Tham. Despite
your wise decision to start over, I feel it was one of those rare flashes of 
insight."
     "For you, Kan, the word would be `nonexistent'." Tham frowned.
     Kan glared back at him. "Oh, like your sense of humor? Or your wisdom?"
     Tham pushed himself off the wall and stalked out the door, fuming.
     Chip and Gadget exchanged glances. Tham and Kan had seemed to grow to hate
each other even more in the past few days, despite all they've been through. The two
Rangers had noticed this development slowly but surely grow in power. Which in turn,
fed their own suspicions.
     Kan tossed her head back with a snort as Tham left, just loud enough for him to
hear. "He's still a jerk. I don't care how honorable he's acted recently. I have 
half a mind to not invite him to the dinner later tonight."
     "Half a mind?" Tham's voice called back with a sneer. "*That's* being 
generous!"
     Grinding her teeth, Kan stormed out of the room, shooting a killing glance at
Tham before turning and walking down the hallway away from him. Chip and Gadget 
merely stared after the two, both being smacked upside the head with a fact that was
so blatant it shamed them to not see it earlier.
     As one, they turned to each and said, "Kan and Tham are in love."
     Blinking, they let out a nervous laugh at their simultaneous statement. Chip
tipped his hat to Gadget.
     "Please," he said with a smile. "Ladies first."
     "Oh, well," Gadget sat down on the bed with a giggle. "I just realized it now.
I mean, Tham is the only guy that Kan has never even tried to flirt with."
     "Ever?"
     "Not even my father could remember a time."
     "Funny. I was just thinking that Tham was always so cold to Kan in hopes that
she *wouldn't* flirt with him."
     "Why?" Gadget cocked her head to one side. "It looks like he'd really like it."
     "That's just it. He *would* really like it. So much, in fact, that he's afraid 
that he'll babble out his true feelings for her."
     "Huh." Gadget smiled softly, her eyes looking out to the hallway as she 
thought. "That would make sense, and fit in with what Kan's problem is..."
     "Which is?" Chip prompted.
     "She's also scared to death of flirting with Tham, because she'll realize that
it's more than just flirting. So she never tries. I guess they're both terrified of 
rejection from the other."
     Chip let out a heavy laugh. "And so they work together very hard subconsciously
to prevent themselves from consciously getting together. Classic. And now that the 
Furfoot Clan is gone, they don't have a common enemy, and are forced to look at each
other with their full attention. I bet that's why they've been even more testy to 
each other than usual; they're just shoring up the walls of defense."
     Gadget looked back to him with a sly grin. "We *have* to get these two
together."
     Chip nodded thoughtfully with a wide smile. "Rescue Ranger Matchmakers? It
rolls off the tongue nicely. But how? We need to keep them from suspecting 
anything."
     "Ah, treachery and deceit." Gadget rubbed her hands together with a
mischievous grin. "My specialty." She stood up and began to pace. "The dinner 
tonight would be a perfect place." She was referring to the celebratory dinner Kan 
was taking everyone to, simply for the fact that they all had managed to live 
through the past week.
     "But it needs to be more than just that." Chip thought out loud. "Maybe there
could be a dance...."
     "A dance?" Gadget smiled. "Golly, that would be perfect! I'll talk to my 
father, I'm sure he knows of some elegant places around here where they have dinner 
and dancing."
     "Good, good." Chip wandered about the room a little bit, lost in his own
thoughts. "After dinner, we'll need to get them out there on the dance floor. When 
they get that close, and in such an environment, it'll hopefully be enough to get 
through their stubbornness."
     "But how do we get them out there without them suspecting?"
     "Easy. We'll have different partners. I'll take Kan out, and you take Tham out.
The two of us will work towards moving them to the center of the dance floor, where 
we break off and bring them together."
     "Sounds good," Gadget nodded. "Only one problem."
     "What?" Chip turned to her with a worried look. He thought the plan to be 
rather slick, himself.
     "I don't really know how to dance." She shrugged a little sheepishly, fidgeting
with her hands. "Not the ballroom dances, anyway. I never really learned that kind 
of stuff."
     Chip smiled and stepped over to her. "It's easy. I had to do it for my cousin's
wedding before. Look, it's like this." He placed her right hand on his left 
shoulder, taking her left hand in his right, and putting his left hand on her right
hip. "The steps are really simple to learn. It's just a three-four beat rhythm you 
have to keep in mind."
     Gadget nodded, trying to remember what her mother had written about the
subject. As Chip carefully paced out the dance, she couldn't help but laugh.
     "What?" he asked with curiosity, maintaining the dance.
     "I was just thinking," Gadget giggled. "My mother would have loved this. My
first dance is to piped-in music at a hospital."
     "You've got to start somewhere, right?" Chip smiled.
     "Mmmm," Gadget closed her eyes, counting out the steps in her mind. She began
to lose herself to the rhythm of the dance, eventually forgetting the cheesy piped-
in music and getting a feel for the movement of her feet in time with Chip's. She 
had to admit, it really was easy to learn, just a slight step here, a minute sway 
there, but each subtle movement blended together to create a elegant and beautiful 
pattern... she could start to understand why her mother had loved to dance so.
     "Your mother wore it when she and I first danced." Her father's voice popped
into her head as Gadget remembered the locket around her neck. Suddenly, a number of
things also began popping up from her subconsciousness. The fact that her mother had
worn this locket when she first danced with her father.
     And now, Gadget was wearing it with her first dance with Chip.
     The fact that her parents had met that night in the annual ball at the local 
hospital fundraiser.
     And now, Gadget and Chip's first dance was in a hospital.
     And the fact that her mother had said the locket was meant to help Gadget find
her true love....
     She opened her eyes, looking directly into Chip's.
     Chip. Her friend and teammate for what felt like forever. He was always there,
no matter what she needed. A pair of hands to help out in the workshop, a volunteer 
to test a new invention (despite Monterey's misgivings), or just someone to talk to.
Despite all of his dedication towards case-solving and crimefighting, he always 
managed to find the time to help her out whenever she needed it. Most of the time 
without even being asked.
     She thought about how she had told her father that Chip needed some sort of
balance in his life. She found it a strange comment now, her hand clasped in his. He
was the one who really provided the balance to the team. It was his rock-steady 
devotion to the purpose of the Rescue Rangers that really bound them all together. 
His was the voice of reason to match Dale's enthusiasm, the stable plan to balance 
Monterey's eagerness, the analytical mind to interpret Zipper's reports, and the 
strong hand to steady her own vibrancy.
     If everyone else was a bonfire of energy and ideas, then Chip was the 
protective hearth that nurtured their creative flames, making sure they all kept the
embers of hope alive instead of burning themselves out.
     This sense of wonder and enlightenment washed over Gadget like a comforting
wave, refreshing her spirits as she gazed into his eyes. She moved her hand on his 
shoulder a little, feeling the rough and worn leather of his jacket flex under her 
touch. His own hand on her hip was gentle as he continued to guide her through the 
dance, which was good, because she had forgotten the steps already. She had 
forgotten why they were dancing. She had even forgotten where they were. None of 
that seemed important anymore.
     Her heart gave her body a timid tug, taking advantage of the trance Gadget was
in, pulling her closer to Chip. She slowly closed the gap towards him, everything 
happening as if by instinct rather than thought. She felt a strong sense of 
security, mixed in with a dash of excitement and anticipation. All her life, she had
grown used to the habit of always acting with a blueprint or some other sort of 
prepared plan set on paper. The concept of acting on sheer impulse, as she 
subconsciously knew was happening now, was making her light-headed and eager.
     Or, maybe, just maybe, it was just being this close to Chip that was causing 
her current state of flux. His battered brown fedora gently grazed the top of her 
forehead as she felt her eyelids drawing closed. Vision wasn't necessary, and would 
only detract from the sensation of touch she was very interested in now. Indeed, she
felt her heart skip a beat as she could feel Chip's own nervous breath against her 
nearing lips...
     "ATTENTION! ATTENTION!" Monterey's voice thundered over the hospital
speakers, causing Chip and Gadget to jump back with a start, their trances broken.
     "Would Chip, Gadget, Kan, and Tham please report to the main lobby?"
Monterey's voice continued. "And make it quick mates! The sooner we sign Chip out, 
the sooner we can get on with findin' an appropriate dinner spot! Hey Dale, you're 
right, this P.A. system set-up is a neat idea..."
     "Told ya," Dale's voice answered with amusement.
     Gadget rubbed the back of her finger lightly across her upper lip, where it 
still tingled from Chip's breath. The aftereffects of the moment still lingered in 
her mind, and she was surprised to find that her knees were strangely unsteady. She 
also found it fascinating that the only expression she could manage was a soft smile
as she stole a glance over at Chip.
     "Um...." she started, feeling the need to break the silence. Chip was 
apparently very interested in the top of his hat, but she noted that he wore the 
same warm smile that she did. "We, uh, better get going. Tham and Kan have probably
already gotten there by now."
     She glanced back up at Chip at the same time he shifted his eyes to her, 
locking gazes with her. A giggle escaped her for some reason, and she shyly looked 
down again, backing up towards the door. Her hands fidgeted around behind her until 
they found the doorknob, which she twisted open and stepped back out into the 
hallway. She paused for a moment, looking back at Chip. He still stood in the same 
spot, tugging his hat back on and smiling at her.
     Another giggle.
     She let the door close and started down the hallway, still lost in the haze of
emotions.
     What *happened* back there? She thought, wandering down the corridors. And
why do I feel so... so... well, golly, *good*? I mean, it's not like anything 
actually happened. It was just a momentarily imbalance, I bet. Chip's system is 
still recovering from the poison, and I was still readjusting to the barometric 
pressure change since we came down from the mountain. Yeah, I'm sure that's it.
     Giggle.
     Placing a hand over her wide smile, Gadget glanced about, hoping nobody
noticed the deep flush of her cheeks. She noticed, however, for the first time in 
five minutes, that she had been walking the wrong way.
     She shook her head with a grin, laughing at her sudden light-headedness. She
turned and headed back towards the main lobby where everyone else was, determined 
that whatever she had just experienced could be logically explained.
     So why, she thought, do I have to fight this sudden urge to skip down the
hallway?

     Chip brushed off the top of his hat as the clerk brought the clipboard over to
him.
     "Here you are," he said pleasantly. "Thanks for waiting. If you don't mind my
saying so, you've been one of the most patient patients we've had."
     Chip rolled his eyes at the pun, but smiled. "Forget it. I've been somewhere 
that puts this place to shame in terms of paperwork."
     "Really? It must have been like touring the underworld."
     "Close. Purgatory."
     The clerk merely shrugged, then walked off. Chip worked his way down the
form, filling in the blanks so he and his friends could leave. They were waiting in 
the actual lobby around the corner while he finished up.
     Placing the pen down, Chip glanced over the form, making sure everything was
filled out. Nobody was behind the counter at the moment, so he settled back to wait,
but then changed his mind. Something he resurfaced in his memory when he saw the 
name of the hospital, the Wong Thong Clinic. He knew he had heard it before...
     "Oh yeah..." he nodded to himself. "This is where Geegaw said he had his
physical at after he recovered from the plane crash."
     The thought bounced around his mind for a minute, picking up momentum, until
it jump-started what had been bothering him for some time now, ever since Geegaw
told the tale of his survival. Casting a glance around him, and seeing the coast was
clear, Chip deftly hopped over the counter. Checking the small monitor in front of 
him, he crouched out of sight and started typing on the miniture keyboard.
     The clinic had rigged up a number of custom-made computers, mostly donated
from the various animal electronic businesses in hopes of good P.R. A section of 
the human's mainframe was covertly acquired, so the animals could store their 
records on it as well without having to rig up a full system of their own.
     It took a minute to figure out where it was he wanted to go, but Chip soon
accessed the records of the animal patients for the past decade. He wasn't sure when
exactly Geegaw had been in, but figured that a name like Hackwrench would be rather
unique in the Orient.
     Sure enough, only one file had that name on it, and Chip quickly brought it up.
He scrolled through the report, not exactly knowing what he was looking for. It went
on to explain the patient's condition, and the general set of tests that were run, 
as well as the start of a complete check-up.
     Chip quickly scanned down it, then moved on to the next page entered into the
computer. This one, however, was much longer than the last. And, as Chip read, it 
was the reason why he had suspected something was up. He read over it several times,
just to make sure that he was reading it right, and that there were no further notes
or corrections from later on.
     But there were none. Chip had been looking for answers, and now had painfully
discovered them.
     "Why am I always right about the wrong things?" He sighed, his heart dropping
like a stone.
     Standing up, he exited the program and walked around to the door leading back
into the lobby, not caring if the staff saw him in the restricted area. He left the 
form on the counter, not caring if the clerk found it or not. He waited outside the 
lobby door for a while, not caring if his friends were waiting. In fact, he really 
didn't care about very much at the moment.


     Gadget checked with Geegaw, who suggested an elegant restaurant over in the
center of the town. It was completely run by the animals, so they wouldn't have to 
worry about the humans possibly getting in the way. When Kan and Tham weren't 
around, Gadget explained the plan to the rest of the group. They were surprised that
they hadn't figured out why Tham and Kan acted so cold to each other, and quickly 
agreed to the plan.
     Kan was told where they decided to eat at, Geegaw explaining it as a place he'd
always wanted his daughter to see. Kan agreed, and so they spent the rest of the 
afternoon getting ready. It was a very formal restaurant, Geegaw explained, and a 
strict dress code was required.
     Kan looked through her closet, coming out with a few dresses. Gadget looked
them over, and picked out the one she thought would be the most stunning for Kan to 
wear. It was a slim, white satin dress, a belt around the waist made from golden 
threads, and the bodice covered with elaborate decorations of bamboo and doves. It 
snugly fitted over Kan, and even Gadget had to admit that Kan looked even more 
exquisite than normal in it.
     Not to be the only one in such an elegant gown, Kan picked out a stylish blue
dress for Gadget. It had a sleek, dark blue sash around the waist, with several 
small coils of cloth poking out from the top and bottom, giving the appearance of a 
bouquet of flowers. The shoulders also had the same treatment, complete with some 
extra frills that gently flowed over her arms.
     Gadget was delighted at how well the dress fit, as if it had been made 
exclusively for her. Kan grinned as Gadget looked at herself in the mirror, 
surprised to see how well the outfit fit on her.
     "Golly," she finally managed, "it *really* is a beautiful dress."
     "Just remember," Kan answered, "the dress can only look as good as the wearer.
And I'm willing to bet the others will agree with me. Especially those dashing 
chipmunks." She laughed as Gadget's cheeks flushed red.
     After all, Gadget thought, I don't think I've ever worn something this elegant.
Not as comfortable as my overalls, true, but still... it feels right.
     They met up with the men later in the evening, Gadget feeling a bit odd flying 
the Ranger Wing in the dress. It was definitely not the transportation of the high-
classed. Still, any reservations that she may have had about wearing it were wiped 
clean away by the reaction of her friends and father.
     Monterey and Geegaw both looked at her with a sense of pride; the little girl
they had known for so long had finally grown up. Zipper and Tham grinned and nodded 
in approval, glad that she was finally starting to try out some things that 
intimated her, like wearing dresses. And Chip and Dale...well, she guessed that they
would like it, but not to the extent that they did. Both of them goggled for a 
moment, before their superego could beat the id back into place. Chip even had to 
lean against the wall for support.
     Then Kan stepped out, and only made things worse for them. Also, Gadget noted
with a grin, Tham was acting if he had seen Kan for the first time. His eyes boggled
for a moment before his self-control could bring things back in check.
     Kan actually gave a smile to him, admiring the well-cut dinner jacket he was
wearing. The rest of the group wore the same, having tracked down a decent tailoring
shop nearby. Gadget had to laugh softly at Chip, as the devout leader still wore his
beat-up fedora, making for a odd, yet nonetheless distinguished, appearance.
     They climbed aboard the Ranger Wing carefully, and flew off to their
destination.
     Chip was subdued throughout the meal, telling everyone he was just tired from
all the activity in the past two weeks. Despite Chip's detached mood, the others had
quite a wonderful time at the dinner, discussing the past events and what the future
might hold. Everyone talked about what had happened, with Dale even talking about 
the trip to the celestial bureaucracy and Tham admitting his personal agenda. 
Nobody, not even Kan, seemed to be angry with him, though. They were too happy to be
alive to harbor any resentment. 
     Something that was evident as the night wore on, was that Kan and Tham
constantly stole glances at each other. They also never gave a scowl or sneer, and 
even smiled during conversation.
     "I will admit this much, Tham," Kan said, in a somewhat awkward tone of 
respect, one that she apparently wasn't very familiar addressing him with. "I'm 
impressed by your decision to dissolve the Clan. I know it's hard to let go of 
things close to you, but it really was a wise move."
     Tham nodded and smiled at her. "Well, something you'll love to hear, is that 
you were right. I really couldn't have done anything to restore it to the honor it 
had before. Best thing to do, and what my parents would have wanted, was to start 
over. Am I, after all, the last man in the family."
     Kan gave a throaty murmur. "And quite a man at that...."
     Everyone else blinked. Kan had actually *flirted* with Tham.
     Tham's smile remained, though, as he sat looking at Kan. He quickly rose,
walked over to her and went into a low bow. "Kan," he extended his hand and motioned
to the dancing floor. "May I have this chance?"
     "You mean 'dance'," Kan grinned, placing her hand in his.
     "Trust me, Kan. I know what I mean."
     For maybe the first time in her life, Kan blushed a deep red at the comment.
Tham helped her up, and they made their way off to the dance floor, never separating
their gaze from each other.
     "Golly," Gadget grinned after them. "That went even better than expected."
     "Yeah." Chip managed a weak smile, actually glad for the distraction. Everyone
watched as Kan and Tham began to dance out on the floor, moving together as if a 
unified whole.

     They decided to spend the night at Kan's. Her apartment had plenty of space,
they wouldn't have to spring for a hotel somewhere, and nobody really wanted to 
travel all the way back up to Geegaw and Tham's cabin. They changed when they got 
back, and went to bed, the food and music from the restaurant settling in their 
systems.
     Dale had suggested that they have a slumber party of sorts, which everyone
seemed to like. Kan brought out all of the blankets and pillows, and cleared away a 
large spot on the floor. Dale and Zipper started a few pillow fights, only to be 
ganged-up on by the rest of the crowd. Finally, they stretched out on the floor as 
Kan turned off the lights. Most of them were asleep in minutes.
     Most, but not all.
     Chip looked over to where Geegaw was, and saw that the aviator was still
awake. Gadget was nestled between them, fast asleep.
     Good, Chip thought as he shifted over closer to them. That should make this
easier for both of us.
     Geegaw glanced over at the shifting. "Oh, hello Chip," he spoke quietly, so as
not to wake anybody else. "You can't sleep either?"
     "I've just got a lot on my mind." Chip also remained quiet, their voices being
carefully lobbed over Gadget's sleeping form.
     Geegaw chuckled. "I know the feeling." He turned back to Chip, and noticed that
Chip was looking at him intently, a trace of irritation evident. Chip was obviously 
upset about something, something that had to do with Geegaw, but what could--
     "Oh," Geegaw said flatly, making the connection. "You know, don't you?"
     "When were you going to tell her?" Chip indicated Gadget, careful not to 
disturb her.
     Geegaw shrugged as best he could in a supine position. "I've been wanting to,
but it's never seemed to be the right time." He paused. "How long have you known?"
     "I just found out today." Chip sighed. "But I suspected something for a while
now. I mean, I could understand why you didn't want to contact Gadget once you were
fully pulled into that Yakuza problem--"
     "For fear that they'd try to use her as leverage by kidnapping her, or worse,"
Geegaw quickly interjected.
     "--but," Chip pushed on, "that didn't happen until months after the crash. Now,
you were bed-ridden for a while, but there must have been a window of two weeks or 
so between your check-up at the hospital and the assassination of Tham's parents. 
That's plenty of time to have written a short letter and gotten it to Gadget *if you
wanted to*." Chip's tone was cold and hard in the surrounding silence. "But you 
didn't. Why? That's what I couldn't figure out. Still, there was only one possible 
reason I could think of, and at the clinic today, it was confirmed."
     Geegaw said nothing, just stared blankly at the ceiling.
     "Well?" Chip asked again. "Don't you think you should tell your daughter? Don't
you think she has the right to know?"
     "Yes," Geegaw said, looking back at Gadget. She was still sleeping peacefully
between them, her sturdy coveralls a dark bluish-gray in the ambient moonlight from 
the window. "But not yet. I need to wait for the right time."
     "No," Chip shook his head. "Either you tell her, or I do." His tone made it 
clear this was no bluff. "You can't keep putting this off, Geegaw. I know you're 
hoping that by doing so, it might just go away, or at least that she'll find out on 
her own accord, but that'll only make it harder on her. Yeah, there will be some 
heavy emotional hurdles for both of you to clear, but that should be cake compared 
to what we've all just gone through. The sooner you tell her, the sooner you can get
past those obstacles, and get on with the important things."
     Geegaw looked over at Chip, and smiled warmly. "You know, Chip, that's really
excellent advice. I'm shocked that you haven't followed it yourself."
     "What?" Chip was taken off-guard by the reply. "Me?"
     "Yes." Geegaw chuckled again. "You. You, who are hopelessly in love with my
daughter."
     Chip's jaw worked up and down for a moment, but no sound came out. He was
incredibly grateful that everyone else was asleep. "What?" he finally squeaked out.
     Sighing, Geegaw leaned closer, over Gadget. "You still won't admit it to
yourself, will you? Are you really that afraid of the possibility, however 
microscopic it may be, of her rejecting you? Those feelings you have aren't going to
go away, Chip. And do you really want to go through life never knowing? You're a 
pragmatic leader, but even you should know that we all have to take chances and 
leaps of faith. Even when there's no safety net."
     Geegaw leaned back, while Chip found his gaze settling on Gadget, all curled up
in the blankets next to him.
     "I'll tell Gadget my secret, Chip," Geegaw continued softly, "if you tell her 
yours. And seeing as how you're denying it, I don't have anything to worry about."
     "I'm not denying anything...." Chip's feeble excuse wasn't even classifiable as
a defense.
     "Then tell her you love her."
     "I... I...."
     "Chip, until you admit to yourself, you'll never be able to admit to her."
     Geegaw turned over on his side then, leaving Chip alone with his thoughts.
     Gadget's mouth was partially agape, the corners turned up in a soft smile in 
her sleep. Chip wondered what she might have been dreaming about.
     He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head and stretching out his 
chest, thinking about what Geegaw had said. Geegaw had made a very convincing case. 
Maybe it would better for Gadget not to know, after all. Maybe things wouldn't work 
out as bad as Chip knew they would. After all, if Chip made Geegaw admit his secret 
to Gadget, he very well might call Chip up on the spot next. Chip wasn't sure if he 
was ready to tell Gadget, to her face, his honest feelings for her. He doubted he'd 
ever be ready. Which meant Geegaw might get his way....
     Perhaps the position she was in wasn't comfortable, or maybe it was something
in her dream, but for some reason, Gadget shifted about in her sleep. She rolled 
over towards Chip, resting her head on his open chest. Apparently happy with this 
new resting place, her smile widened and she snuggled closer, the top of her head 
just tucked under Chip's chin. Her arms looped over him, pulling him tighter into 
the soft cuddle.
     Chip was surprised that everyone was still asleep, as his heart was pounding so
hard he thought it would wake half the city. The unexpected sudden proximity of 
Gadget, snuggled up against his chest, flooded his mind with such a warmth that his 
thoughts were in danger of drowning.
     Slowly, ever so carefully, he moved his hands out from the back of his head,
bringing his arms down to lay across Gadget's back. He was extremely careful as they
touched, so as not to disturb her slumber in the least. With a slow but strong pull,
he hugged her to him, shutting his eyes and breathing in the rich scent of her hair,
burying his nose in the top of her head. Gadget gave a incredible sigh of 
contentment, with just a trace of a giggle, cementing Chip's decision.
     A tear silently slid down his face as he knew what his choice was, and wishing
that this life didn't have to be so harshly cruel at times.
     But, unlike Tham, he had no way to made this wish real.

     Gadget yawned with a smile, recalling the dream she had just woken up from.
She had been curled up with Chip in the Ranger Wing, back on the way home. She 
thought that the feeling of his soft fur against her face was leftover from the 
dream, and so was pleasantly surprised to discover that she was in fact nuzzled up 
against his chest, her head rising and falling with each steady breath.
     Her smile grew as she also felt his arms tenderly wrapped around her, holding
her close. That same feeling that had surfaced back in the hospital bubbled, and she
had to fight to hold back another giggle. She didn't want to accidently wake Chip. 
Idly, she wondered if he had actually moved her over, or if she had shifted in her 
sleep. Not that she really cared at the moment. All that mattered was this 
incredible feeling of intimacy that she was just soaking in, savoring every moment.
She wished that they could stay like this forever.
     "But you can't, you know."
     Blinking, she shifted her gaze up in front of her, to see her father standing
there, a wide and approving grin on his face.
     A flash of embarrassment hit, like she was caught trying on her mother's
high-heels as a child. "Dad-dy!" she whispered harshly through her smile. 
"Quiet, or you'll wake him."
     Geegaw smiled and shook his head. "Sorry, hon. But he's already awake."
     Gadget stole a quick look up at Chip. It was hard to tell from her vantage 
point, but he still appeared to be very much asleep.
     "Oh, don't worry about it, hon," Geegaw said, reading her mind. "I didn't visit
you to tell you that."
     "Visit me? Dad, are you okay?" She looked at her father carefully, noticing now
that he not only suddenly had irises, but also that they were awash with swirling 
chromas. "What?..."
     "Listen Gadget," Geegaw continued, not noticing her reaction, "You need to do
something later today."
     Gadget could only look at him. What was going on? She absent-mindedly
pressed closer into Chip, trying to pull more security from him.
     "I've been called a legend by some," Geegaw went on. "With that in mind, I
highly suggest you find out what I am."
     "You mean *who* you are, don't you?"
     "No, it's much more important to find out *what* at the moment, hon." He
winked at her, giving a burst of blinding colored lights.

     Jerking her head up, Gadget looked around with a start. She was still on the 
floor in Kan's apartment, but apparently was the last one up. Even Dale was up 
already, out with the others in the kitchen. Shifting up to a sitting position, 
Gadget rubbed her head and yawned.
     "Weird dream...." she mumbled, feeling relief and regret that it wasn't true.
     "Hey, she's up," Monterey's voice called from the kitchen. Looking up, she saw
her old friend standing in the doorway, decked out in an apron and chef's hat. 
Apparently, Kan had decided to let him do the cooking.
     "'Bout time, luv," he continued. "We're about halfway through breakfast by now.
I was afraid you were gonna sleep all the way through it."
     "I guess not, Monty," she said tiredly, rising to her feet. "I'll be over in a
minute."
     "Too right. Once we're finished, we're jauntin' back up the trail to retrieve
Geegaw and Tham's belongin's from the cabin. Seein' as how this business with the 
Furfoot is pretty much over with, there's no need for them to remain hidden away in
the wilderness."
     Gadget nodded. "Be there in a minute." She stumbled off to the bathroom to
wash up.
     When she got to the kitchen, everyone else was just finishing with their meal,
then left to help Kan clean up the place or get the Ranger Wing prepped for another
long flight. Gadget ate her meal in silence, allowing her mind to drift down 
different avenues of thought. She wondered about that dream mostly, as it had seemed
much more direct than most of the ones she had.
     Breakfast finished, she joined the rest of the group out by the Ranger Wing,
climbing into the pilot's seat. As she buckled in, she stole a glance at Chip, only 
to see him casting a stern gaze at her father, who shrugged. But the gaze was over 
in a moment, and they both went about their business as if nothing had happened.
     Curious, Gadget wondered, starting the Wing up and bringing it out into the 
early morning sky. The trip went relatively quickly up to the mountain, seeing as 
they knew how to get to their destination directly by now. Geegaw assured them it 
wouldn't take that long, as they only had a few things to bring back, some from the 
cabin and some from the surrounding area. The rest could remain behind.
     It was early afternoon when they finally touched down outside of the modest
shack, everyone hopping out to get started. Tham let the way for Dale, Zipper, 
Monterey and Kan, taking them to pick up a few items that were placed further out in
the wilderness. They were mainly trail markers of types, but Tham had wanted to 
gather them up nonetheless, as they were originally his parents'. Gadget, as she 
first entered the cabin, noticed something that Zipper had left on the table, namely
a book entitled, "Myths and Legends".
     Her dream resurfaced, and she felt herself pick up the book as if by a
preprogrammed direction. She looked around, seeing that Chip and Geegaw were busy 
loading up small odds and ends into the foot lockers. She wanted to flip through the
book for a moment, but not in plain sight of them, as they were obviously working, 
and she was not. She stole outside, promising herself to go back and help in just a 
few minutes. She picked out a spot near the cliff in the sunshine, and settled down 
with the open book.
     She quickly thumbed through the pages, sensing that she was looking for
something, but didn't know what yet. It was full of numerous tales and myths about 
the animal and human Orient, and even had a number of elegant and flowing drawings. 
One of these drawings in particular grabbed her attention. It was of man approaching
a small band of travelers. He looked normal enough, but the artist had drawn a 
series of squiggly and sharp lines from his eyes in colored ink. Checking the 
chapter title, she saw it was dealing with spirits and ghosts. Intrigued, she found 
where in the text it was talking in conjunction with the picture, and started 
reading.
     "The Zi-kai spirit," it read, "or also called the traveller's guide, has been
known about for centuries, but never fully investigated. So far, the only things 
that are known for certain is what people report about it, which has remained 
consistent to this day. First, it appears to both humans and animals, so it is 
considered a universal benefactor. It will only appear, however, to those of noble 
souls. This does not denote royal blood or lineage, of course, merely those
that it considers worthy of its aid. Such a visit, of course, is considered a 
blessing."
     Gadget looked up for a moment. "Golly, I have a noble soul?" She grinned.
"Cool."
     "The second thing that's known," the passage continued, "is its method of 
giving advice, and the methods it employs. The most widely used one reported is to 
appear in the selected person or group's dreams. Sometimes it will appear to a large
group at once, where everyone has the same dream, but this is uncommon. It prefers 
to appear to each soul on a more personal level, and will usually appear in one 
person's dream at a time. This is not to say that its visitations are limited to 
dreams, however, as reports have also confirmed it can speak to those who are in 
some type of a trance. This trance could be from hypnotism, staring blankly into 
space, or even, through modern reports, watching television for extended periods of
time.
     "The information that the Zi-kai spirit gives is as diverse as the people who
receive it. One might be advised to partake in a certain course of action, which 
will bring honor to his family, while another may be given a cryptic riddle, which 
when figured out is the long-sought answer to an old question. Its advice can be 
political or personal; it depends completely on what the spirit decides best for the
person. Sometimes it even goes as far to give more than just one piece of advice, 
but this is rare. One thing that is certain, however, is that the advice always is 
for the immediate future, usually within a day or two, and quite often for right 
when the person wakes."
     "So..." Gadget looked out to the sky. "My purpose was to find this out? Maybe
I'm supposed to tell the others. Maybe they had dreams like me, then." Shrugging, 
she continued to read.
     "A visit from the Zi-kai is also easy to tell, which is why it's become so well
known among the scholars. First, it always, regardless of the form it picks, has a 
set of swirling, colored eyes. This is believed to somehow be connected to its 
purpose in the afterlife, and some even suspect that it's a type of link, where the 
spirit draws its power from an enlightened source. The next thing that also sets the
spirit apart from the rest, is the dream one experiences always starts out very much
normal, and in fact, most don't even realize they're dreaming until something clues
them in, usually the colored eyes.
     "The final thing that makes a visit from the Zi-kai spirit easy to place is its
chosen form. This form is always different, although it has been known to use the 
same form when visiting a group of friends. The form is one that everyone knows, 
almost always a mutual friend or acquaintance. The form is perfect down to the last 
detail, only the colored eyes giving its true nature away. Also, there is one thing 
about its selection of a form that remains consistent, mainly that the chosen form 
is of...."
     Gadget's eyes went wide as she read the rest of the paragraph. "No..." she
breathed, unable to comprehend the information. "No... it's not fair." She squeezed 
her eyes shut, not moving, as if the power of her denial could change the written 
word. The breeze from up the cliff face flapped the page around her hand, holding 
her place. Slowly, she opened her eyes, already beginning to mist over, and read 
aloud the last line.
     "...the chosen form is of one who has recently died, or in some cases..." Here
her voice broke, and she had to force herself to continue, "...of someone who is 
fated to die soon."
     She curled up into a ball around the book, placing her forehead on her knees,
and wrapping her arms around her legs.
     And then she wept for a long time.

     Chip brought one of the foot lockers out to the Wing, grumbling. He and Geegaw
hadn't said two words to each other, and yet were in middle of a heated argument, 
conducted through a series of looks, postures, and expressions. Thus far, Geegaw was
winning. He would tell Gadget, but not yet. After last night, however, when Gadget 
had accidentally snuggled up against him, Chip recalled the words he had spoken 
harshly to Tham not too long ago, about how if Tham would ever harm Gadget, through
either action or inaction, he would regret it.
     "Through action or inaction," Chip grumbled, his own words coming back to
haunt him. "I bet Asimov's robots never had this problem."
     He knew he had to either tell Gadget, or confront Geegaw when Gadget was
right there. Of course, Geegaw probably wasn't bluffing about playing his own trump
card, and calling out Chip on his true emotions for Gadget. Chip had tried to say 
that he loved Gadget to himself a number of times today, but he just couldn't break
free from the inner walls around his soul. True, they may have prevented him from 
feeling true joy, but they prevented him from being wounded again, as well. Now, 
though, Geegaw may have found a breach in the defense.
     Sighing, Chip loaded the foot locker up into the seat, knowing he had only one
option, and was merely trying to stall as long as possible. After placing the foot 
locker in the Wing, he looked out to the view, and saw that Gadget was sitting alone
out on the cliff. He hadn't seen her in a while, and thought that she had gone with 
the others.
     The others. Gone.
     Chip looked back at the cabin. Geegaw, him, and Gadget. Alone. This was the
perfect time, he realized. Do this in private, and then let the Hackwrenchs decide 
if they would tell the others. Chip really didn't care, but Gadget *had* to know. 
Only then would he feel like he had done everything he could to help, even if it 
would make her cry. Still, at least she could cry on his shoulder, if nothing else.
     Hopping down from the Wing, Chip made his way over to Gadget. She sat stock
still, staring out into the sky, a closed book on her lap. Her eyes were red and 
puffy, signalling that she had been crying.
     Maybe she already knows, he thought, then dismissed it. There hadn't been a
chance for Geegaw to tell her yet. Chip wasn't sure if this was the best time for 
Gadget, but stuck to his resolve. The sooner this got out into the open, the better 
off everyone would be. "Gadget?" he called softly.
     She turned her head towards him. "Oh... hi Chip." Her voice was totally flat, 
her face tired. A complete turn around from the energy she had possessed ever since 
she discovered her father was alive.
     "Um..." Chip looked down, then reached out a hand to her. "Come with me,
please. There's something... important you should know."
     She looked at him for a moment, and her face softened. Chip's heart leapt as he
saw a glimmer of trust twinkle in her large, blue eyes. She reached out and clasped 
his hand tightly, allowing him to help her to her feet. Tucking the book under one 
arm, she walked back towards the cabin with Chip, still warmly holding his hand as 
he led the way. She had her eyes partially closed, as if gathering strength from his
presence.
     Makes sense, Chip thought with a nervous chuckle, My knees feel pretty weak
about now. Their strength must be going somewhere.
     He brought her into the cabin, where Geegaw was just latching up the last foot
locker. "Oh, hey honey. Where've you been?"
     She shrugged, not really having anything to say. The book was still held 
tightly under one arm, while her other hand was affectionately joined with Chip's.
     "Geegaw has something to tell you," Chip stated clearly, informing Geegaw as
much as Gadget.
     Geegaw sighed and frowned.
     "Either you tell her or I do," Chip remarked, his voice both understanding and
commanding. "I personally think she'd much rather her it from you."
     "It's okay," Gadget said quietly. A small, honest smile appeared. "I already
know."
     "You know?" Geegaw asked with disbelief.
     Chip turned to Gadget, his own shock evident. "You know what, Gadget?"
     "That..." she closed her eyes before finishing. "That you're dying, Dad."
     Geegaw just looked at his daughter for a moment, then walked over to her,
taking her protectively in his arms. Chip stepped back, to allow the father and 
daughter to hug each other fully, reluctantly releasing his hand from Gadget's.
     Gadget buried her face in her father's chest, but didn't cry. She had already 
dried out her eyes long ago. Her arms slipped around her father's back, grasping her
hands and holding him tight.
     "How did you find out?" Geegaw asked softly. He obviously didn't think that
Chip had said anything.
     "Oh, I guess I've always known, somewhere in my heart," Gadget replied, her
throat raw from all the weeping she did only minutes earlier. "I just didn't fully 
accept it until today." She squeezed her eyes shut as she forced the next question 
out. "How long do you have?"
     "Two months, tops," Geegaw sighed. "I found out I had terminal cancer when I
went in for that check-up, and the doctors said it would be around four years. I can
feel my time limit drawing to a close. I'm sorry I didn't tell you Gadget, but this 
was why I didn't want you to know I had survived. It didn't seem fair to tell you I 
was alive, just so you could know I was going to die again. In truth, I was glad for
the involvement with the Yakuza, as it gave me a viable excuse to keep you in the 
dark. It was now your safety, not mine, I was concerned about."
     Gadget didn't reply at first, just continued to hug her father. "I love you, 
Daddy."
     "I know hon." He lightly kissed the top of her head. "I know."
     Chip was silent through the exchange. Geegaw gave him a quick look, letting
him know wasn't going to say anything to Gadget.
     Visibly relaxing, Chip mouthed, "Thank you."
     Geegaw nodded and mouthed back, "Just promise to watch after my little girl."
     Chip gave a tender smile. "It would be an honor."
     Nobody said anything else until the others returned, just waiting in the cabin,
listening to the wind whistle against the windows.

     The others were informed of Geegaw's cancer upon their arrival, surprising
everyone except for Tham, who had been there at the hospital when it was first 
diagnosed. Although everyone was saddened, Geegaw refused to let them wallow in 
their sorrow. As he pointed out, he didn't want to waste his last days moaning over 
what could have been. This was the hand that was dealt to him, and he was determined
to at least break even.
     Not everyone was too cheerful, but none could really argue with the aviator. It
was obvious Geegaw had come to terms with his own mortality long ago. Death wasn't 
nearly as frightful for him as for the others, despite his upcoming appointment. 
They loaded up the rest of the Ranger Wing, and Tham and Geegaw took one last look 
around the cabin, saying their farewells to the simple hut that had been their home
for the past few years.
     Back in the city, Tham arranged to move into a small home where he could work
on building a new family name. The Rangers noticed with amusement that it happened 
to be rather close to where Kan lived. Kan, in particular, seemed ecstatic about it.
The others could hardly believe it was the same Kan and Tham who had been at each 
other's throats for the entire mission. Now, every sneer was replaced with a hug and
every snort substituted with a wink.
     It was almost to make Chip and Dale sick from the saccharine that the new
couple oozed.
     "Well," Tham said, shaking Chip's hand firmly, "here's hoping we cross paths
again."
     "We might swing by Japan again," Chip answered, returning the shake. "If we
do, we'll look you up."
     "And if you two ever stop by the States, you know that our tree's always open,"
Gadget said, hugging Kan goodbye. "So long, Kan. Take care of yourself, you hear?"
     "Me?" Kan laughed. "I'm more worried about watching after his butt." She jerked
a thumb towards Tham. "What with his dreams and all, I'll be lucky if I can keep him
out of trouble for one day."
     "Oh, I'm sure you'll find *something* to keep him occupied with, Kan," Gadget
said slyly, giving a knowing glance at Tham and her.
     Kan giggled and nodded, making all the males in the group blush.
     Dale could hardly believe Gadget had said that. "Gadget, when did you
start... uh... thinking like that?"
     "Oh..." Gadget rolled her eyes innocently. "Kan's been giving me a few
pointers."
     "On what?" Chip heard himself ask timidly.
     Gadget merely gave him in an incredibly sultry look. Normally, when Kan did it,
it made Chip melt. With Gadget, however, he felt like he was about spontaneously 
combust.
     "Well," Monterey said, giving Tham and Kan a strong hug, "You two keep in
touch, ya hear?"
     "Yeah," Dale nodded. "We'd like to hear what happens with the new Clan or
whatever."
     Speaking of which, Zipper gestured to a new pendant Tham was wearing, what's
that?
     "Oh, I almost forgot to show you. I just had it made. It's the new insignia of
my future Clan." He held it up, showing everyone the design. It was of a full moon,
encircled by five stars. "Kan suggested the modifications. The two separate moons
become one, and are now protected, not separated, by the stars."
     "Kinda romantic, isn't it?" Kan giggled, hugging Tham close.
     "Er... yeah." The sudden flush to Tham's cheeks seemed to have blocked the
access to his vocabulary.
     "Well, come on people," Geegaw announced, moving up into the Wing. "If we
want to get back to the States soon, we'd better leave now. It's a long trip home, 
you know."
     "Yeah Dad," Gadget smiled, joining her father. "But the destination makes it
all worth the while."
     The rest of the Rangers boarded the Wing, waving goodbye to Tham and Kan as
they took off and headed out, chasing the sun.

     The trip back was filled with tales, more than anything. The Rangers used the
long journey back home to fill in Geegaw on the many adventures they had been 
through, and Geegaw did the same, explaining some of the other close calls he and 
Tham had with the Furfoot. Monterey was particularly vocal, determined to make sure 
that his oldest friend knew that he hadn't lost his touch, either for adventure or 
elaborating on the tales.
     Finally, they arrived back at their headquarters, almost a month since they had
left.
     "The best part of leaving," Dale sighed happily as the tree came into view, "is
coming home."
     The guys were quick to unload the Wing, while Gadget gave her father an
extended tour of the place, proudly pointing out all of the modifications she and 
the Rangers had made. Geegaw made comments and remarks as they walked about, 
especially impressed with the police badge that adorned the wall in the living room.
Her favorite place, which he could have guessed, was the workshop she practically 
lived in. She spent close to an hour in there, just showing her father all of the 
different inventions she had built, and was planning on building. He was 
particularly interested in the objects she had brought over from their old home.
     That brought up an idea for Gadget, and the next day she and her father flew 
out to their old home by the airport. The rest of the Rangers decided not to go, 
having things that needed attending from their leave of absence. That, and they all
agreed in private that it would be best for Gadget to have as much time with her 
father as possible. They all figured that the trip back to the Hackwrench's old home
would be more personal than they would be comfortable with, so elected to stay at 
the headquarters.
     Geegaw flew the way over there, Gadget giving him a quick run-down on how
the Ranger Wing worked. Geegaw caught on in a flash, although he wasn't too 
comfortable with some of the special features that Gadget had added, but knew better
than to say anything. He piloted the craft skillfully over to the downed plane that 
had served as their home ever since Gadget was a little girl.
     Upon arriving, it almost was like Gadget was that little girl again, as she 
darted about, telling Geegaw all about what had happened after he left, and the time
she had met Chip, Dale, Monterey and Zipper. Geegaw appeared to be a bit uneasy 
about all the traps that Gadget had set up, but his daughter assured him that no 
salesman ever visited. Twice.
     Geegaw sighed happily as he walked about the old homestead, pointing out
places that elicited a memory of their time together, when Gadget was growing up. 
They walked through the whole plane in this fashion, reminiscing about the earlier 
days. They continued out into the scrapyard, and finally, as the sun began to set, 
came to their last stop on memory lane.
     "Hello, Terica," Geegaw said softly, kneeling down beside the headstone at his
wife's grave. "Long time, no see."
     "She's missed you, Dad," Gadget said, moving around behind her father and
placing her hands on his shoulders. "We both have."
     "The feeling's mutual, hon," Geegaw replied, then glanced over to the tombstone
alongside his wife's. "It's weird," he stated with a chuckle, "to see your own 
tombstone, complete with the date you died."
     "Yeah, well..." Gadget shrugged, sniffling a little. "It'll be changed all too 
soon." Her hands gripped his shoulders fiercely.
     "Easy, Gadget." He patted her hands with his. "I'm not gone yet."
     "You'll never be gone, Dad."
     "Hmm?" Geegaw turned around and stood up. "How so?"
     Gadget smiled bravely, swinging his hands a little in hers. "You'll always be 
with me. In here," she tapped a finger against her locket, "As well as in here." She
placed her hand over her heart.
     "Well, thank you hon." Geegaw reached out and gently tapped his finger on her
nose. "But just make sure that there's room in there for somebody else."
     She gave her father a puzzled look, and he laughed.
     "I promised your mother I'd help you find the happiness she had, Gadget."
     "And I am happy, Dad. I'm ecstatic that you're finally here, home."
     "Well, as comforting as it is to know that I'm able to make you happy, remember
that I'm not the only one."
     Gadget still didn't quite catch what her father was alluding to.
     How can she be so brilliant at putting parts together for a machine, Geegaw
thought amusedly, and yet have so much trouble putting together the facts about the 
people around her?
     "Suffice to say, Gadget, that when I'm gone," she bit her bottom lip as he said
that, "that you'll still have someone around who cares as much for you as I do."
     "Monty?" she asked. "He's always been like a father to me."
     "Not quite, hon. But I think you'll know soon enough." He leaned over and
kissed her forehead. Turning back to the grave site, he ran a single finger along 
the top of the marble stone. "Goodbye Terica. I'll be visiting you soon enough, 
though."
     "Come on, Dad." Gadget tugged at her father's hand. "Let's go home."
     She gently led the way away from her mother's peaceful grave, Geegaw still
watching it as he walked with her. "She was an extraordinary woman," he finally 
managed, turning away.
     "And married an extraordinary man," Gadget added.
     The father and daughter left the grave site in silence as the last of the sun's
rays disappeared over the horizon.

     Exactly two weeks later, it happened.
     Life had pretty much returned to normal for the Rangers, and Geegaw started to
see why Gadget enjoyed her work so. He went along with them on a few cases, and was
impressed with the efficiency and honest pride they put into their work. He even had
a couple of chances to help out, his expert piloting skills shaving the travel time 
on a number of instances when speed was of the essence. Chip even went so far as to 
officially name Geegaw as an honorary Ranger, much to the delight of Gadget. All in 
all, the last two weeks were a wonderful time for all.
     But at the end of the second week, time ran out for Geegaw.
     He had been feeling tired for the entire day, and everyone was worried. They
knew what might be happening. He tried to pass it off as just general weariness, but
when he collapsed in the living room, they knew the time had come.
     Moving him to Gadget's bed, they quickly made him as comfortable as possible.
Geegaw was extremely weak all of the sudden, and had broken out into a strong fever.
Zipper was quick to go for the nearest doctor, while the others gathered around the
bed, saying their goodbyes. They all knew the doctor would never arrive in time.
     "Well, mate," Monterey said softly, resting his hand on Geegaw's shoulder,
"we've had a smashin' reunion. I'm really not in the mood to complain about it. I 
guess I just wish it coulda been longer."
     "Don't wish for yourself, Monty," Geegaw replied with a cough. "Tham taught us
that."
     "You've taught us a lot of things, too," Dale said, pulling the blankets up 
more for Geegaw.
     "Indeed," Chip nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the floor. "I know I've learned
a lot."
     Geegaw smiled, but didn't say anything. Gadget watched as he did, the way that
the corners of his moustache turned up and set a peaceful glint to his eyes. She was
grateful to see that once more.
     Monterey coughed, signalling to the chipmunks that it was time to leave Gadget
and Geegaw alone to say their own goodbyes. He knew it would be difficult enough 
without them there to watch. Chip and Dale quietly nodded, following Monterey out of
the door. Chip paused in the doorway, looking back at the father and daughter. 
Gadget was seated next to the bed, her hands encasing one of Geegaw's with the 
utmost care. Still, she wasn't crying, not yet at any rate. He wanted to go over and
hold her, let her know she wasn't alone, but knew that wasn't what she needed now. 
Gently, he stepped fully into the hallway and closed the door.
     "Well hon," Geegaw said in a raspy voice, "I'm sorry it turned out this way."
     "No, no, Dad," Gadget cooed, patting his hand. "I'm happy that it did. I got to
see you again. I got to hold you again. I get to actually be here for you this 
time." Her throat suddenly choked up, but she fought the tears back. "This is the 
second chance I've always dreamed of, don't you see? This is want I've wanted for 
so long."
     "Me too, I guess." Geegaw raised his other hand to brush it along Gadget's
cheek, causing her to close her eyes and lean into his touch. "But I never wanted to
hurt you again. I knew what it must've been like when you thought I died. I went 
through the same thing with your mother. But still, I guess this really wasn't... 
that bad of a time." His eyes glazed over for a moment.
     He was fading.
     "No it wasn't," Gadget whispered fiercely, the tears threatening to break free.
But not yet. Not until there was nothing left to say. Only then would she permit 
herself to let go. "Listen Dad, you know I love you, and I'm already missing you. 
But I want you to know that these past weeks have been the greatest of my life. I 
was fully aware of every moment, and savored each minute with you like a gem. You 
know that, don't you? Dad?"
     It was a moment before he answered. "Yes... I do." His voice was very weak
now, his lungs barely able to force the air through his windpipe. "And it goes for 
me to, Gad--Gadget. Me... too."
     Gadget leaned over her dying father, hugging him tightly, listening to each 
beat of his heart, fearing it would be the last.
     "Oh Gadget..." Geegaw's voice was barely a whisper now, more of a rasp than
speech. "It's beautiful."
     "What Daddy?" Gadget closed her eyes, feeling Geegaw rest his hand on her
head, stroking her hair lightly.
     "The light... it's beautiful."
     "I know Daddy." Her first tear escaped, but still she struggled. She wasn't
through yet. "Listen, Daddy, I--" A forming sob cut her off, but she stubbornly 
pushed on. "I need you to do a favor for me. You need to board the Screaming Eagle 
again. Can you do that?"
     "Yes...." She had to strain to hear his reply. "All systems... go. Taking 
off...."
     "Good...." She was shaking violently now, the emotions trying to burst from 
her, but she wouldn't give in yet. "Now. You--you have to listen to me, D--Daddy. 
See the light? It's the signal for the runway. F--Fly, Daddy. Fly to the light. But
you fly carefully, you hear?" Her last statement came out as a whisper.
     "Mom's waiting for you at the end of the runway."
     There, in the comfort of his daughter's arms, Geegaw Hackwrench, ace pilot of
the animal kingdom, departed on his final flight.
     And Gadget cried as she had never cried before.

     The funeral was an especially quiet event. Gadget was completely speechless
throughout the procession, following in behind her father's friends as they carried 
the coffin up to the grave. They had been surprised to learn that Geegaw had lived 
through the crash, as they hadn't found out until this sad occasion. They probably 
never would have known, if it weren't for the fact that Gadget had wanted her father
to have the proper burial that he deserved. The rest of the Rangers were also quiet,
although they did exchange polite greetings and condolences with the rest of the 
crowd.
     As the coffin was slowly lowered into the earth, Chip glanced over at Gadget
next to him. She watched with a detached expression, her grief separating her from 
the rest of those gathered. Chip looked over at Monterey, who also wore a face of 
sorrow. The large mouse brushed away a tear, sad to see his long time friend go, but
also glad that at least he was around to pay his final respects this time. Dale 
sighed deeply, Zipper doing likewise on his shoulder. They really hadn't know Geegaw
that well, but well enough to miss him and wish they had known him longer.
     Chip knew he owed a debt to Geegaw, one that would be difficult to repay. 
Geegaw never told Gadget of the discussion that they had that night, over her 
sleeping body. Even though he could have told her at any time, he never did. In 
fact, he never even hinted to Chip that he would. Chip guessed it might have been a 
bluff, but now knew it was more for Chip's benefit.
     He also remembered that dream he had, what now seemed like a lifetime ago,
back in the tavern.
     "She's not your friend," Geegaw had said.
     No, Chip mentally agreed, she's my love.
     He had finally started telling himself that mentally, even though he still 
couldn't say it out loud. He had done a spectacular job of building those walls 
around him. So well were they constructed, that now he realized they served a dual 
purpose. Not only did they keep people from getting in, but also preventing him from
getting out.
     His mind dwelled on this glumly for the rest of the day, even after the funeral
was over and everyone was back at the headquarters. The reception wasn't a dark one,
in actuality, but more of a fond remembrance of a most significant mouse. All of 
Geegaw's old friends were there, recanting tales of the daring pilot, trading 
stories with the Rangers about everything that he had accomplished, both old and 
new.
     Chip had stepped into his room for moment, changing out of the funeral outfit
and putting his comfortable fighter pilot jacket back on. He chuckled, thinking that
Geegaw would be glad that at least one person was wearing aviator clothing at his 
funeral reception. He started to empty out the pockets, having not really gotten 
around to it over the past few weeks. As he flipped through his notepad, looking 
over all that he had written, a single note fell out.
     He blinked, then remembered what it was. It was that note the mouse had given
to him, back in the celestial bureaucracy. He had shoved it into his pocket, and it 
must have gotten stuffed up into the notepad by mistake. He had completely forgotten
about it until now. Picking it up, he looked at his name written on the outside 
again. The handwriting seemed so familiar. Where had he seen it before?
     Shrugging, he opened up the small note and began to read.
     His eyes grew wide, and he felt his heart stop as saw who had written it.
     Trembling, Chip staggered back to the bed, sitting down on it heavily as his 
legs refused to support him anymore. He tried to hold his hands as steady as 
possible as he read over the note again.
     "...Marie?" His voice croaked, disbelief welling up in it. It can't be her!
     But it was. That's why the handwriting had seemed so familiar. He hadn't seen 
it in a long time, almost ten years now, but he would always remember it. Just like 
the notes she used to pass to him in school--
     A timid knocking on the door caused him to jump, and he hastily stuffed the 
note back in his pocket. "Who is it?" he called out in a shaky voice, desperately 
trying to regain control of his trembling.
     The door opened slightly, and Gadget poked her head in. "Chip? Are you okay?"
     "O--Okay?" Chip gulped and gripped the side of the bed with white knuckles to
stop from shaking. "Why do you ask?"
     "Well," Gadget looked behind her for a moment, then stepped in the room,
closing the door. She had changed back into her overalls as well, and the familiar 
sight helped to settle his nerves a little. "You've been gone nearly a half-hour. 
And when I was passing by, it sounded like you were..." She paused, unsure how to 
proceed. "Whimpering."
     Was I? Chip thought with alarm. Oh man, this note has effected me even worse
than I thought!
     He tried to smile, but still the words from the note burned in his mind, 
dragging forth something from his soul that he had stuffed away a long time ago. Now
here it was, bathed in the full light of revelation, and he was forced to look at 
his shame all over again.
     The next thing he knew, Gadget was helping him off the floor, sitting with him
back up on the bottom bunk.
     "Chip, what's wrong?" She asked concerned, placing a hand on his forehead.
"You looked like you were about to say something, and then just swooned and thudded
to the floor."
     "I'm--I'm just trying to come to grips with what's happened. Everything," he
quickly added. I've got to get a hold of myself! His brain commanded. I can't come 
apart, not now! Not here!
     He steadied his hands on Gadget's shoulders. "Thanks Gadget." He took a deep
breath, slowly managing to clamp down on his sudden surge of guilt for an event 
long past. One that, he knew, he could never forgive himself for.
     "Are you sure you're okay?" Gadget didn't seem convinced, having to use both
arms to hold him upright, while he needed both of his hands on her shoulders to 
remain sitting. "You're the one who's always the stable one, Chip. When you start
acting like this," her voice went from stern to frightened, "it scares me."
     "Don't be." Chip forced out a nervous laugh, draining away some of the tension.
As he feared, however, the hurt remained. "I'm going to be fine. Really." He looked 
back up at her.
     "I don't believe you," she stated, still supporting him.
     "I promise." He looked directly in her eyes, hoping that she'd mistake the 
shock in his own as conviction.
     "Just promise you'll watch out after my little girl." Geegaw's voice popped 
into Chip's mind, from when he had mouthed that line to him back in the cabin.
     Watch out after Gadget. Like he'd ever do anything but. Yet, the way Geegaw
said it, it seemed to... imply more than just friendly or even teammate concern.
     It suddenly occurred to Chip that he and Gadget were sitting very close. Far 
back in the corner of his mind, the turmoil that the note had caused had opened up a
small crack, where his heart could speak to him from beyond the inner walls 
surrounding it.
     "Go ahead," his heart spoke. "Don't worry about anything happening, because
you know it'll never happen. Something always interrupts, remember? Think of all 
the times you've tried it before and something interrupted. It just wasn't meant to 
be. So go ahead, it won't happen."
     Chip found himself observing things from a detached viewpoint. He noticed that
he was slowly leaning closer to Gadget, his hands on her shoulders lovingly pulling 
him closer. Likewise, Gadget's hands moved up his sides to his own shoulders, 
bringer her nearer. As they closed, their eyelids slid shut again, both of them 
being guided by something that transcended mere physical senses. He was aware of 
every aspect of her. The refreshing coarseness of her overalls, the scent of her 
shampoo from this morning, the sounds from her mouth as her lips parted slightly 
open.
     The only reason why Chip wasn't shaking like a leaf was due to his heart's
whispered assurance that someone would burst in through the door any minute now, 
breaking the mood. After all, they had both been absent from the others for some 
time now, and while he wasn't of much consequence, Gadget's absence would most 
certainly be noted soon. And they would come looking for her, eventually trying Chip
and Dale's room, stepping in and spoiling the moment. It made perfectly logical 
sense, and Chip took solace in his heart's reassurances.
     And so, it was quite to his surprise when he felt Gadget's warm lips press 
against his.
     "I lied," his heart grinned.
     The initial surprise of having a dream come true almost made Chip pull back, 
but Gadget surprised him yet again, slipping her arms around his neck, holding him 
firmly, yet gently, to her.
     Once, a long time ago, Chip had been kissed by Lahwhinie under the pretense
that she was actually Gadget. Still, even after the deception was revealed, Chip 
always remembered how that kiss felt, how his senses had completely left him, and 
how he had felt like he was walking on a cloud for the next hour. It was perfect 
bliss....
     This kiss, from the real Gadget, left that one far behind.
     Losing himself in her embrace, he allowed his arms to slide around her back,
pressing her even closer to him, completely letting go of all his fears and 
reservations. He was rewarded as he felt her smile and hmm happily in the 
passionate kiss.
     She was still hurting over the loss of her father, found so recently and lost
yet again. Chip was hurting from the note, reminding him of a past he longed to 
forget. Alone, neither could do anything to stem the hurting that ached in their 
souls.
     Together, they made the pain subside.