Time Bomb

Chapter 04

by Richard Ryley

"Don't nobody say nuthin' about women drivers," Daisy commented, as she swerved around the traffic, even as the other cars scurried to get out of their way.

"Well, at least she's not as bad as you, my Gooseman," Doc quipped. "After being a passenger in something you're driving, I suppose I can survive anything..." He added his own fire to Goose's, and Patch's windshield cracked. The white haired fellow dropped back, the other two hovercraft moving up to take his place.

A stray laser blast grazed Daisy's door, however, and the car was knocked sideways. The melted chuck of composite bounced off the roadway and into a nearby shop, shattering the storefront window. As the traffic coming in the other direction swerved to avoid the debris, the cars ahead of them were forced to stop, blocking the lane ahead.

Daisy made a hard right turn, throwing her passengers around in their seats, as she whipped around into a side alley. The car careened off the brick wall, then roared off down the alleyway, their pursuers still right behind.

"I take it back!" Doc exclaimed. "You ARE as bad as Goose!"

They shot out of the alley under an awning, and Goose took out its supports with a couple of well placed shots. The fabric fluttered down over the car that was right behind them, blinding the driver. Daisy made a right turn into the traffic, nearly flipping the car up onto its side. The Black Hole Gang's car, on the other hand, sailed straight on across the street, slamming into the wall of a building, and exploding in a ball of flame.

"Good shot," Daisy commented.

"Good driving," Goose answered.

Daisy grinned at him. "Thanks."

"DON'T WATCH ME! WATCH THE ROAD!"

Daisy's attention snapped back to the street as an enourmous hover tanker headed right at them. "Hang on," was all she said.

The hovercar was still coming down from its sideways turn into the street, and she jerked the wheel hard to the left, causing the car to flip up onto its other side. They shot through the gap between the tanker and the wall with only inches to spare. The car behind them, trying the same manuever, got pinned by the tanker and was crushed against the wall.

The final car, the one with the cracked windshield, skidded to a stop at the end of the alley. The huge tanker continued past them, its horn blasting. By the time the way was clear for them to continue, Daisy and her new allies were gone. Patch stood up, looking around, but the Galaxy Rangers had made their escape.

"Am I the only one who's afraid for his life, here?" Doc asked, as Daisy cut another wild corner, putting as much distance as she could between herself and the Black Hole Gang. "Where's Zozo?"

A small, furry blue hand stuck itself out from under the car seat. "Under here."

Doc paused a moment. "If there was more room, I'd say move over..."

"All right, Rangers, listen up!" Daisy glanced back over her shoulder, beginning to slow down as she assured herself that she wasn't being followed. "I've got some inf'mation fer ye, but I'll be askin' fer a pardon in exchange fer it..."

Gooseman looked a bit pained as he considered his options. From the back seat, Doc grinned. "I think she's got us right where she wants us..."

Goose sighed. "Okay... I'll see that you get that pardon." He raised a hand to cut her short. "On the condition that we get the girl and the disk back."

"Ah... ye know about that, then... I figgered that was why ye was here..."

She looked at Goose. "That rat Macross met with yer friend Ryker Kilbane earlier this week. They've got some kinda plan, and they're turnin' the Black Hole Gang upside down 'cause o' it. They'll be takin' the girl AN' the disk back ta Entropy's edge, just as soon as they can get off this rock."

"We figured that much," Doc said. "What makes you think that info is worth a pardon?"

Daisy glanced back at him. "Ye din' know what's on the disk, then?"

Doc's grin faded. "No, we don't. It didn't sound like it was anything important..."

"Nuthin' important... that ain't how I heard it. Ryker seems ta think that whatever's on that disk will spell the end of ya... of all of the Galaxy Rangers!"

Doc and Goose looked at each other. "I guess you'd call that a 'need to know,'" Doc muttered.

"Even so... our first priority is to get the girl back."

"Now, how did I knew ye were ginna say tha'?" Daisy turned a corner. "Well, if we're lucky, Macross hasn't taken off yet. Ye can rescue the girl 'afore she even gets off Prairie..."

Unfortunately, by the time they pulled up to Macross's hangar, it was long empty. "Dang," Daisy muttered. "They give us the slip." She dropped back down in her seat, and the hovercar rocketed off in another direction.

She stopped in front of another hangar, and hopped out. The Rangers joined her as she slid open the doors, to reveal a small spaceship, an attractive orange-gold in color. It was a bit large for an Interceptor, but much smaller than Ranger Two.

"This outta get us ta Entropy's Edge. I've got a lad in the gang that can help us out. From there on out, it's up to ye Rangers... and a bit o' luck..."

"And where did you get this?" Goose asked.

"I won it fair and square, Galaxy Ranger." Daisy countered. She typed a code into the access panel, and the canopy opened. The ramp extended down to them, and Doc, curious as usual, made his way inside.

"She's a pretty little thing, an' got a few suprises o' her own. Not as nice as me own battlecruiser..." She grinned at Gooseman. "But she'll do."

"All the same... I think we'll take Ranger Two."

"Ye'll never get past the Black Hole Gang's sensors in that thing," Daisy countered, laughing. "The whole rock'll know you're there before you come within a hundred light years..."

Daisy put a hand on her ship's landing strut. "This baby is the only thing that's gonna get you onta Entropy's Edge in one piece," she said.

Doc poked his head out of the canopy. "No kidding! Daisy, are you aware that you've got a Blue Fire generator up here???"

"Is that wha' it's called?" Daisy says, looking up at him. "It wasn't even workin' when I got it. The idiot who had it before me apparently didn't even know what it was."

Doc stared at her for a moment. "You mean, you're the one that wired it this way?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

"Daisy... a Blue Fire generator is designed to disable tractor beams. But the way you've got it wired... well, Daisy, you've figured out how to make it jam SENSORS, as well!"

"I thought tha' was what it was supposed ta do..."

"My Gooseman," Doc said with a grin. "I think the odds just turned in our favor."

Time Bomb - Chapter 04

From Betamountain.org

Time Bomb

Chapter 04

by Richard Ryley