Disclaimers: *Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers* is copyright 1986-present to Sir Robert Mandrell, Gaylord Productions, Transcom Media Inc., ITF Enterprises Inc., Hearst Entertainment, and KOCH Vision. The characters of Daley, Locke, and Rowley are respectfully named after some of that show’s staff; they first made their debut in “Rogue Arm.” *Kung Fu* is copyright 1972-present to Ed Spielman and Warner Brothers Television. The author makes no claim of ownership to any of the characters, locations, and/or situations associated with the above programs/people/films/books. All original characters and situations plus the story itself are the author’s property and cannot be used without permission. This is a piece of non-profit fan fiction. Please send all questions, comments, and thoughts to me at Jayce6@gte.net -- flames will be forwarded to the Queen of the Crown and the Chinese Imperial Court.
Author's Notes: Many thanks to LadyNiko, Kat, and Jess for their praise and suggestions. My deepest gratitude to LN for encouraging me throughout the course of writing this story! Genre: Alternate Universe with an Action/Angst focus, plus some Z/E and G/N mixed in. This is my interpretation of what the Galaxy Ranger characters would be like in the Kung Fu universe, with Niko in Kwai Chang Caine’s role.
*Asterisks* = Dreams, thoughts, and visions.
CAPITALS and _Underlining_ = Emphasis in dialogue.
"Ariel sounds like one strong lady," Eliza smiled. *Lord, no wonder the poor girl looks haunted.*
"She was." Niko brought herself out of the reverie with a start, noting that twilight cloaked the land. "Shall we continue?"
They kept on going till midnight, dodging from shadow to shadow to maintain their secrecy. They talked only when necessary as their ears picked up the whistling of the wind, howling of coyotes, and sounds from other nightlife in the desert. Twice they heard the sounds of men and horses, but they faded within seconds. The constant rhythm of wheels bumping over stones caught their attention. Niko and Eliza took cover as a stagecoach was illuminated in the full Moon's bright glow.
Squinting her eyes, Eliza attempted to make out the driver. It was the off-key yodeling that reassured her. "At ease, Niko; he's a friend." Running out on the path, she waved her arms frantically as a grin dominated her face.
"Whoa!" an older male voice called out, stopping the horses ten feet in front of her. "What the Sam Hill are you doin' -- ELIZA!!" Whooping out loud, an older tan-and-brown clad man with white hair, moustache, and beard jumped to the ground and engulfed her in a bear hug.
"Hey! Put me down, you big cowboy!" Eliza chuckled back.
After swinging her around several times, he did so. "A miracle. Been a while seen I've seen one," he said in a rough voice. "How did you ever escape from that doggoned Queen?!"
"With some help from a new friend," Eliza replied as Niko stepped into the light. His blue eyes widened as she approached them.
"Niko, allow me to introduce Cody 'Wildfire' Carson, formerly my husband's C.O. and currently a professional gold miner."
Cody took Niko's hand and kissed it in his most gentlemanly-like manner. "An honor to meet you, dear lady." He threw a mock glare at Eliza. "And I'm staking my claims, NOT mining gold!"
"There's a difference?" she shrugged.
He stared at her for five seconds before roaring with laughter. "That confirms it; you're Eliza. No-one else can charmingly insult me in quite the same way!" Gesturing at the stagecoach, he said, "Your chariot awaits, ladies."
On cue, Eliza gave off an enormous yawn. "Sounds good, Cody; thanks. Niko?"
"I will maintain the watch till you are safely home."
Eliza nodded and handed the shotgun back before stepping inside. She was asleep seconds after lying down on the seat.
Niko joined Cody and they both kept a sharp eye out. Taking a closer look at him, she noted that the tans and browns of his broken-in clothing made it easy to blend into a crowd and hide in the wilderness. Worn holsters on either hip held well-oiled .45 pistols. He had an open, friendly face, though his sharp blue eyes spoke volumes of the sights he’d seen in his life. The bright moonlight and brilliant starshine revealed no approaching Raiders, wild animals, or other assorted headaches.
"Please tell me about this 'Queen,'" she asked him.
"She's a real piece'a..." he started furiously before backing off. "Sorry. That ain't any way to talk to a lady. Anyway, the Queen's the nastiest desperado ever to come this way. She's robbed convoys, stagecoaches, and trains. Seems obsessed with grabbin' all the wealth she can get those purple hands o' hers on..." He chuckled at Niko's surprised look. "Yep. It's the weirdest thing -- she wears this god-awful purple stuff all over her skin! Never seen anything so repulsive in all my life. She leads the Raiders, a gang of THE nastiest criminals, pirates, and traitors ever to haunt the Great American Desert. With her brains and their muscle, the Queen has her own little country out here in the middle of nowhere. We've sent numerous requests askin' Washington for help, but ain’t got any thanks to that idiotic Senator Wheiner claiming it to be a 'local matter,'" he snorted disgustedly. "She got seriously mad when Zach grabbed some of her loot a while back, and in revenge she kidnapped Eliza and kept 'em apart. She got her kicks out of torturing those two -- till now."
"Thank you," Niko replied. "I am sorry I made you uncomfortable."
He patted her hand. "Don't sweat it -- us old soldiers are used to strange things."
They passed the next few hours in a comfortable silence, watching for trouble.
It found them right before sunrise.
A chorus of shouts, whistles, and yells exploded behind them. Whipping her head around, Niko saw the Raiders. Turning to Cody, she asked "How fast can this 'stagecoach' go?"
"We're about to find out," he grumbled as he cracked the whip. "Yaaa! Move it, lads, 'less you want lead for breakfast!"
The mustangs galloped like the devil was chasing them!
At first, they put some good distance between them and their pursuers.
Then the gunfire started.
A lucky shot hit the left horse's flank, causing the buckskin stallion to stagger and neigh in pain. The ‘coach seriously slowed down despite the efforts of Cody and the other horse, a bay mare.
“C’mon, Buchanan, don’t let a little sting like _that_ stop ya! RB, keep going!” Cody hollered.
Niko turned around and fired back, taking out two of the Raiders with painful shoulder wounds. A third panicked and fell off his horse before the bullets could hit him.
A stray bullet scraped her upper left arm, but her mental techniques reduced the pain to a merciful numbness. A few holes appeared in Cody's hat brim and sleeves.
Seven more still pursued them. Their shots took out a few spokes from the wheels, shattered the windows, and generally made a mess out of the once decent-looking coach.
"Sorry, Lady Niko, I don't think we're gonna escape this one," Cody grimly said.
"We will try. Drive as fast as you can through that pass."
Cody urged his horses, and they soon entered it. As they went through, Niko aimed her shotgun upwards, searching out the weak spots in the cliffs. With a few well-placed hits, she caused an avalanche that blocked the way behind them.
"Go AROUND!" MaCross shouted.
"Nice trick, but it won't last long," Cody said.
As if to emphasize his words, the axle broke in two. The stagecoach bucked before finally collapsing in a pile of spare parts.
"I'll get the horses... check on Eliza," he ordered. Cody grimaced as he ran off, tearing strips off his torn sleeves to cover the new bullet hole that ate into his lower left back.
Niko went inside to find a groggy Eliza. Her forehead was bleeding from the gash inflicted by a stray bullet. Red seeped over her eyes as she moaned softly. Judging by the bruises on her arms and legs, she had been thrown around quite a bit.
Niko gently wiped away the blood on her forehead. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "Yeah... jus' a bit dizzy. Gimme a minute."
After brushing some shattered glass off Eliza’s torso, Niko supported her as they walked outside. She set her down on the ground behind the ruined stagecoach.
"Eliza! You okay?" Cody exclaimed.
"'M fine," she groaned as she clutched her head in pain. "Lemme catch my breath..."
He nodded and turned to Niko. "Best I can guarantee is an hour's standoff here. The 'coach and boulders will give us some cover, but there's no escape route. We can try riding the horses, but Buchanan's a long shot. And if Eliza's seriously hurt, I don't want to move her any more than necessary."
"Nor do I," Niko agreed as she quickly bound her wound with a strip of cloth. Before they could decide what to do, the sounds of gunfire echoed off the cliff walls.
"Not again!" Cody snarled. "Don't those dang fools ever take time off?!"
They heard cries of pain and anger punctuated by gunfire. This went on for five minutes before ceasing abruptly. Giving each other a worried glance, Niko and Cody moved before Eliza with their guns drawn.
Framed by the rising Sun, two figures rode into the pass.
One was a young man in his early twenties with blond hair, green eyes, and a rakish air. He was dressed in midnight black from head to toe and sported two brown holsters. The black Stetson cast a shadow over his face. He rode his white Thoroughbred confidently, the reins gripped in his right hand as the left aimed a pistol at the group.
The other was a slightly older woman with long red hair, blue eyes, and a take-charge attitude. She wore a tan shirt, black hat and holster, blue pants, and brown chaps, belt, and boots. She rode a brown-and-white Pinto horse. Her cool eyes glanced over them for concealed weapons.
"Gooseman! O'Mega!" Cody exclaimed. "What’re you bounty hunters _doin'_ in these parts?"
"Trackin' her down," O'Mega answered as she aimed her pistol at Niko. "Don't give me a reason to shoot, girl. The reward's bigger to bring you in alive!"
Niko dropped her shotgun. She didn't want to anger this volatile woman and have her friends get caught in the crossfire.
"What the devil are you talkin' about?!" Cody exclaimed angrily as he moved to stand in front of Niko. "Why are you after this lady who just saved us?"
"WE saved your skins, darlin' -- chasing off those good-for-nothin' Raiders was no laughing matter," she heatedly replied. "As for this slip of a girl, why the Chinese Emperor himself's offering quite a bounty on her!" O'Mega reached into her vest and threw down a folded piece of yellowed paper at Cody.
He caught it with one hand. Opening it, a rough drawing of Niko’s face bordered by words met his gaze. Reading the poster over three times to make sure he wasn't seeing things, he numbly recited "WANTED: Niko, For Murder. By Order of the Emperor, the Imperial Chinese Government Offers a Reward of $10,000 Alive or $5,000 Dead. Contact the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco if captured." Cody backed away from Niko, his body shaking as he pointed an accusing finger at her. "You... you're a murderer?!"
"No," a voice groaned from the ground. "She was avenging a friend's death."
"Eliza, conserve your strength," Niko admonished.
"My head may hurt like blazes, but darned if I'm gonna let you be tried and executed in their blasted court!" Eliza furiously exclaimed. She tried to stand only to fall to her knees and clutch her stomach as a severe wave of nausea claimed her.
Cody caught her. "Easy, easy." He sat her down with her back propped up against the stagecoach.
Niko looked over the two newcomers. When she gazed into Gooseman's eyes, she sensed a... connection to him? Like they had known each other for a very long time -- but she had never seen him before now. Niko saw the good heart beneath the stern face and knew he could be trusted to keep his word.
He for his part was experiencing the same thing. *Get a hold of yourself,* he mentally chided, *she’s a bounty, nothing more!* Then why did it seem like he was lying to himself? Why did he feel whole when he glanced into those lovely, strong green eyes?
Niko took a couple of steps towards them. "I will go if you will help these two," she gestured to Eliza and Cody, "get safely back to New Phoenix."
"Huh! Listen to 'er, dictating terms to US! You're the prisoner, darlin'!" O'Mega laughed.
"They are my responsibility. If you do not do it, you might as well kill me now," Niko replied coldly.
Gooseman reached out and touched O'Mega's shooting arm, which still pointed the gun at Niko. "Let's just do it, Daisy... no sense lettin' 'em die out here in Raider territory. 'Sides, we can contact that consulate usin' the telegraph in New Phoenix."
She arched an eyebrow at him. "You goin' soft on me, Shane?"
"Nope -- but I ain't got any love for the Queen either. Well?"
"All right, all right," she sighed. "Never could resist those darn emerald eyes o' yours." Turning back to the group, her voice resumed a business-like tone. "Carson, can those stagecoach nags still travel?"
"Nags?!" he sputtered. "Why, you..."
"I'll take that as a yes. Mount 'em up -- we're riding. You," she gestured with the gun at Niko, "bind up that lady's wounds fast. We've got a long journey ahead of us." Niko started to reach into her pouch when O'Mega interrupted her. "Hold it, honey! Dump everything out in front o' you! An' give up yer weapons -- I ain't gonna die at the hands of some bloody murderer!"
The younger woman sighed and did as she was told. She threw her shotgun and staff on the ground, followed by a throwing knife she pulled from her left boot and the box of ammunition strapped to her belt. Besides her weapons, she emptied the contents of her pouch: small canteen, bag of edible roots, tiny pouches of medicine herbs, jar of ointment, tightly-wrapped ball of cloth strips, wad of dollar bills, square packet of black clothing, and small bamboo flute.
"Now throw over yer bag," O'Mega commanded. She caught it with her left hand and peered inside. "Huh. Nothin’ else. Who would've guessed THAT much could fit into this flat thing?" Turning towards Gooseman, she told him to "Cover me."
He yanked out his right pistol in a split second, training both guns on Niko's heart.
O'Mega threw the pouch back, dismounted her horse, and walked toward Niko with her gun still aimed at the Shaolin's forehead. "Now step aside!" Niko did so as she grabbed the weapons with her free hand. The knife and ammo went into her vest, the staff thrown back in Shane's direction, and the shotgun wielded in her other hand. "Nice toy -- bet you could take out a posse with this little thing," she chuckled. "Load your junk back in and help out the lady." Daisy stayed where she was, keeping her gun trained on Niko's head.
After doing so, Niko walked towards Eliza. The older woman, whose color had returned to her face, calmly watched her approach.
Cody hurried over and grabbed her arm. "Don't you touch her..."
"Oh hush up, Cody," Eliza responded in an irritated voice. "She's saved me three times so far. I trust her."
The older man huffed and released Niko, storming back to finish prepping the mounts up as she moved swiftly to Eliza's side. He got them untangled and put on saddles and bridles stored in the stagecoach's boot. Cody also tended to Buchanan's wound; the bullet was deeply lodged and would bleed more if it was removed, so he just patched it up.
Gooseman raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't make sense. Why would a murderer save lives?"
"Who cares? The money's all that matters, darlin'!" Daisy laughed. "Once we drop off this Chinawoman in San Fran, we can retire!"
He watched Niko's movements with a thoughtful look on his face. No, she wasn't your typical bounty.
Niko concentrated on helping Eliza. She used pressure points to eject the toxins and block out the pain. Washing the wounds with water, she bound them tightly with strips of cloth. Studying her eyes, she knew that the older woman would be just fine.
Strength returned to Eliza's body. With Niko's help, she was able to stand up and fight off the lingering dizziness. "Thanks, hon; I feel a lot better now. I'm sorry that I got you into this mess..."
"It is not your fault. The blame is mine, for reacting instead of acting."
"Niko, anyone would have done the same in that situation. Well, with an actual weapon 'stead of thinking hard, but you get the idea."
"I wish I could believe that."
"Ariel did -- take another look at her final words. She thought you did the right thing under the circumstances."
Niko got a heartbreakingly sad look on her face.
Cody rudely shoved himself between the two women. "The horses are ready... let's go." He helped Eliza to RB and gave her a boost, then pulled himself up.
Daisy moved closer to Niko. "Cody, you and the lady follow us and keep yer traps shut. One word and you'll be saying howdy to the end of my new shotgun. TRY pulling them peashooters and you'll be sleepin' with the coyotes. Way I figure it, we'll reach New Phoenix by sundown. The bounty's ridin' that there buckskin... with the wound he's got, she won't get very far."
"I will not break my word if you both keep yours," Niko calmly replied.
"Yeah, sure. Gooseman, tie 'er up good then set 'er up on that nag."
He holstered his weapons and grabbed a coil of rope hanging off the saddle. Striding over to Niko, he tightly bound her arms and wrists with most of its 100 feet of length by looping it all over them plus her torso.
"Is that really necessary?" Eliza asked.
"Word's out that this here girl's escaped bounty hunters and those blamed assassins before. I ain't takin' any chances," O'Mega replied.
"Assassins?!" Cody exclaimed. "She's got _assassins_ after her too?!"
Daisy shrugged. "The Emperor don't take 'no' for an answer."
While the others were talking, Gooseman whispered "I'm sorry" to Niko.
She was understandably puzzled. "For what?"
"I have no idea. I just am."
Once he was finished, Gooseman lifted Niko up into Buchanan's saddle. He used the rest of the rope to secure her in place.
Daisy tripled-checked the knots, pulling much harder than necessary on them. She got extremely irritated when Niko didn't so much as flinch. "Good job, Shane. Let's ride," she grumbled, striding back towards her horse.
Gooseman started to follow her when he paused. Reaching down, he scooped up Niko's Stetson from the ground, brushed it off, and secured it on her head.
Gazing into each other's eyes once more, they both felt seconds stretch into eternities... then Gooseman broke it off with a snarl, shaking his head as he marched back to his steed.
Daisy's eyes widened. "You okay, hon?"
"Fine -- let's get this over with," he growled. Gooseman grabbed Niko's staff off the ground and secured it on his saddle, then smoothly swung up and took the reins.
They rode out in pairs: the 'coach horses in front while the bounty hunters brought up the rear. A well-worn trail opened up before them, snaking across barren flat land before disappearing into some distant hills. Stumbling over the broken bandits’ bodies along the way, Daisy muttered “Gonna settle the score with MaCross one o’ these days, IF that lying varmint ever stops running away!” Everyone squinted as they beheld the blazing morning Sun, then began riding at a good pace.
Niko wasn't worried about O'Mega. She had triumphed over worse adversaries in the past.
Gooseman was an unsettling mystery to her.
On the one hand, he was a bounty hunter that she MUST escape from.
On the other hand, she somehow knew that he could never hurt her.
She had been attracted to men before, but only in a physical sense. Niko had kept herself away from those kinds of relationships ever since she became a fugitive. It wasn't right to drag someone she loved into her life of exile.
*By acknowledging your needs -- hunger, thirst, companionship, the desire to love -- acceptance will follow and they will lose their power over you,* her mind counseled.
*Mantis, humans were never meant to live their lives alone. In particular, a true bond between woman and man is stronger than the best forged steel chain,* Ariel's voice echoed from the past.
Niko sighed unhappily. She knew that the right choice was to leave Gooseman behind, so why did her heart feel like it was ripping in two? Her eyes became downcast as she accepted this loss.
Gooseman looked over at her slightly hunched back. Nodding slightly at Niko, he asked Daisy "What's eatin' her? Besides the obvious, of course."
"She’s prob’ly making peace with her Maker -- if a heathen like HER believes in one!"
Eliza gave O’Mega an icy look, but Niko didn't visibly notice.
TO BE CONTINUED
GO ON TO I AM... NIKO: CHAPTER 3 RETURN TO I AM... NIKO: CHAPTER 1
DISCLAIMERS: Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers is copyright 1986-present to Sir Robert Mandrell, Gaylord Productions, Transcom Media Inc., ITF Enterprises Inc., Hearst Entertainment, and KOCH Vision. The creator/author of this and related websites makes NO claims of ownership to any of the artwork, characters, events, images, locations, quotes, pics, situations, stories, tales, and thumbnails associated with the following animations, audio cassettes/CDs, books, cartoons, comics, graphic novels, people, programs, movies, and videotapes. ALL original addresses, character profiles, characters, episode information/profiles/summaries, events, fan fictions, FAQ answers, gallery reviews, humor, lines, lists, locations, opinions, quotes, pages, personal biographies, sites, situations, statistics, stories, tales, and vehicle profiles are the creator's/author's property and CANNOT be used without permission. No profit is made off these fan pages. Please send all inquiries to Jayce6@gte.net.