. . . The Rescue Rangers ran down the downward sloping corridor after the villains, certain they could capture them and close yet another case. Chip and Dale skidded to a stop at the sudden appearance of the closed door as the corridor bottomed out. The two chipmunks exchanged split-second glances and then separated, each hugging the opposite wall.

Monty came barrelling behind them, crashing into the door at full speed, reducing the door to its lowest common denominator: splinters. As Monty shook himself off, Gadget and Zipper joined them.

"Are you all right, Monty?" Gadget asked the large mouse as he picked odd bits of wood out of his coat.

The rodent in question affirmed his state of wellness as Chip surveyed the area beyond the formerly effective barrier. The corridor had become darkened, but Chip thought he saw a glint of light farther down. He motioned for the others to follow him carefully.

They crept silently towards the faint illumination, which proved to emanate from beneath yet another closed portal. Chip pleaded wih Monty to use a more subtle approach, but instead had to dive out of the way as Monty reared back and charged, grunting, "It was your plan that let them get a head start in the first place, Chipper!"

The others simply followed the burly Australian through the newly formed entrance and found themselves in a large, brightly lit room. In front of them were five large panel doors, above which was a balcony where the two sinister forms of the masked rodents leered eerily down at their pursuers.
"I hope our lack of hospitality wasn't too insulting," the one on the left cackled.
"Perhaps we can make ammends," the one on the right suggested venomously.
"I think we should," Lefty responded. "Perhaps an appetizer would suffice?"
"Of course," Righty agreed, and pulled a lever close at paw.

A door swiveled upwards, revealing a large pile of cheese. A faint yellow vapor trail wafted through the air towards a certain mouse's nose.

"Che-hee-ee-ee-se!"

"Monty, NO!" Chip pleaded in vain as he tried to stop the older mouse, but was brushed aside roughly.
Monty began to plod slowly towards his cherished favorite food, even as the others began to pile on top of him.

"Perhaps we should try serving a second course?" Lefty asked.
"I should think so, we were rather rude in leaving so quickly."
"Quite so," Lefty concluded as he pulled a second lever, raising another door.

A thin, brown scent infiltrated Dale's nose.

"Cho-ho-c-co-late!" Dale stammered as he began drifting towards the second raised door as its offering of a pile of dark, sweet chocolate.

Gadget and Zipper continued trying to stall Monty as Chip made a desperate grab for his longtime friend, tackling him but still being pulled forward nonetheless. Chip began trying to form some kind of plan quickly. This was getting out of paw rapidly. He needed options, and fast.

"Gadget, can you think of a way out of this?" he yelled.

"The culinary offerings seem to be received rather coolly," Righty observed. "Perhaps gifts would be a better choice?"
"We'll never know until we try," Lefty added, pulling a third lever.

Gadget tightened her grip on Monty's collar and tried to dig her heels in more. Through gritted teeth she muttered her way through ideas trying to come up with something to help their dire situation. And then a pale, black odor touched her nostrils. Her eyes widened and she turned her head at the familiar odor of fresh grease and new machine oil. The third door revealed a treasure trove of . . .

"Spr-ro-o-o-ck-kets!"

Zipper suddenly felt wrenched around as Monty surged forwards, suddenly relieved of Gadget's resistance. He recovered quickly, and flew over to Chip, drawing his attention to the most recent development. "Oh, NO!" Chip groaned. "Zipper, can you fly up to their platform and reverse those levers?"

"Oh, dear," Lefty huffed. "We must have put them out more than we realized."
"Yes, indeed," Righty admitted. "It seems the food offerings were getting better results, though."
"You might just have a point," Lefty concluded.
"Perhaps I do," Righty stated smugly, and pulled a fourth lever.

"Aaap-p-p-lec-o-o-ores!" Zipper sqeaked in pleasure as the light yellow vapor reached him.

Chip released Dale, distraught, as he watched each of his friends drawn inexorably towards the respective doors. Resolving to go down fighting, he pushed his fedora forward on his brow and began gathering his courage. Someway, he was going to save his friends and win the day, though he didn't know how yet.

"Well, it seems we've managed to please all but one guest," Lefty commented.
"We can't have that," Righty chimed in. "Oh, no, no, no."
"That won't do at all."
"Unacceptable."
"Quite."
"Shall I do the honors?" Righty asked.
"You may." Lefty acquiesed.
"Thank you," Righty replied, and pulled the final lever.

Each of the four open doors suddenly became replaced by viciously gnashing mechanical jaws which promised to turn anything which tried to pass through them into confetti-sized bits.

"We aim to please!" said Lefty.
"We certainly do!" said Righty.

Chip took in this new development. This wasn't just his friends walking headlong into a trap of some kind, this was far worse. His eyes widened and his fur stood on edge as he appreciated the scene before him.

"Ch-hee-hee-ee-ee-se!"
"Ch-ho-ho-hoc-c-olate!"
"Spr-ro-o-o-ck-kets!"
"A-a-pp-ple-c-c-o-ores!"

And then Chip began slowly plodding on himself towards the devious duo, a faraway look in his eyes.

"Tro-o-o-ou-ble. . . . " he uttered dazedly . . . . . .

;)

This story fragment started out with me thinking about Monty's "cheese attacks" and remembering Dale's similar "chocolate attacks." I wondered, "what if the other Rangers had similar 'addictions?'" Before I knew it, this is the scene that unfolded, and the piece was written within fifteen minutes at one sitting, posted directly to the Story Board.

I began the scene the way it appeared to me . . . the reader (in my case, the viewer) was dropped into the story in the middle of a scene, in the middle of everything. And I ended it where my viewpoint did a fade-out (possibly to commercial?)

The two villains, the masked rodents referred to as Lefty and Righty, originally appeared to be background fixtures . . . until they spoke. The second time I heard their voices, it hit me. Recognize the way they're speaking? Remember a certain rival cartoon studio's answer to Chip 'n' Dale? They may be Lefty and Righty, but they sure talk like the gophers Mac 'n' Tosh. Once I identified the voices, it took me over two looooong minutes to stop laughing before I could continue writing. It was too good an in-joke to pass up, so I continued writing them in that way.

I'm almost positive the Rangers will find their way out of that mess (it's pretty much a given.) As to how, well, that hasn't been written yet, although I suspect the "Enduring Man-Child" possesses the answer in the form of yet another Ranger addiction.

This certainly could be a round robin. Any other authors are free to pick up the story and take it wherever.

I got the biggest kick out of seeing Gadget dazedly plodding along with a giddy grin on her face, chanting "Sprockets" in the same manner as Monty and Dale. Finding Chip's "addiction" was a bit of a problem, but I think it worked out. Of course, in hindsight, maybe "Mystery" might be more accurate than "Trouble," but wouldn't have worked as well, I don't think.

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