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.
The rag-tag group fell silent as they made good time. Niko slipped into a light trance to get some rest. Eliza was tight-lipped and stone-faced, eyes scanning the shimmering horizons for trouble. Cody moaned occasionally, squeezing his eyes shut in pain as he reached over to apply pressure to the makeshift bandage. Whenever Eliza gave him a questioning look, he waved it away. The group reached the hills by noon, taking a short break for lunch. Save for occasional commands given by Daisy and some murmuring between her and Gooseman, it was a quiet trip.
After passing over a steep ridge, New Phoenix came into their sights. It was a sprawling town, comprised of equal parts wood and concrete buildings crossed by laid-out dirt streets. Built in the shape of a wheel with eight spokes denoting the major directions/streets, the inner rings boasted places of business and commerce while the middle ones had schools, small parks, storehouses, and private homes. The outermost ring boasted fortifications and a ten-foot high wall made up of wooden logs driven into the ground. Cracks and bullet-holes in the wall pointed to past attacks. Several stone wells dotted the landscape and two small rivers passed through the heart of town, flowing in from the northwest and merging to peter out in the south. Many people were out and about, heading home after work or frequenting the taverns and saloons. There were also several groups of Sheriff's Deputies on patrol, numbering two to five people each and easily spotted by the blue-and-white Ranger uniforms they wore. Several buildings had recently been torched on the outskirts, with a faint smell of smoke lingering on the general area, but the damage had been contained.
The dusty group warily entered the open west gate, drawing the stares of just about everybody. The only ones who didn't notice were too drunk to care. The crowds moved out of the way as the law in New Phoenix rode up.
Three young Deputies approached the group on horseback. Their leader, a slim young man with dark brown hair and eyes, tipped his white hat at them. "Howdy, strangers. I'm Daley and," he gestured to his comrades, a pale blond youth and a man with chocolate skin and black hair, "this here's Lock and Rowley. What brings you folks to New Phoenix, and why are you holdin' that there lady prisoner?"
"We need to see the Sheriff NOW, boy," O'Mega replied. "Got us here a bounty to call in."
The other men growled, but Daley silenced them with a wave. He looked over the group before setting on one person in particular. "Miz Eliza!" he gasped. "You're here -- but how?!"
"I'll explain everything later, Daley. It's good to see you all again," she smiled.
The three returned her gesture. "Likewise, Ma'am. Follow us, please."
The larger entourage made their way to the Sheriff's Office. Scattered cheers and greetings came from the growing crowd as the townsfolk recognized Eliza. Daley told his friends to keep watch as he dismounted and entered the Sheriff's Office/Jail, a simple white concrete building with heavy-duty iron bars over the windows.
Inside, he saw Sheriff Zachary Foxx sitting on his desk being tended to by Doctor Walter Hartford. Zach, a no-nonsense military type in his early forties with blue eyes and brown hair, grimaced as Doc performed the operation. His stiffened left arm and shoulder sported several bullet scars and gashes, painful souvenirs from past Raider attacks. Doc, a friendly thirtyish man with large brown eyes, coffee skin, and black hair and moustache, stood behind him and slowly extracted the bullet from his shoulder. Putting it down on the desk with a sigh, he quickly cleaned and patched up the re-opened wound. Both breathed a sigh of relief when it was over.
"Most stubborn patient I've ever had," Doc grinned. His accented voice turned serious as he continued with "Zachary, my Captain, you need some rest! This recent fight nearly burned the city down, and the LAST thing we need is a Sheriff who's dead on his feet!"
"No can do, Doc," Zach gruffly replied. "The Raiders are up to something big! We've got to get ready for their next attack."
"Just promise to get me right after the next time you get shot, okay? This bullet should've been taken out days ago!"
"My people come first. You know that."
The other man was about to argue when they noticed Daley standing at the front door. He came to attention when Zach turned his eyes on him. "Begging your pardon, Sir, but there's folks out here you need to see."
"How important are they?" Zach asked, wincing as he slipped his shirt back on.
"Just below the Second Coming."
THAT got Zach and Doc's attention. They grabbed their hats and ran out the door.
Zach's sharp gaze missed nothing as he approached the newcomers. Doc and the three Deputies followed with their pistols drawn, scanning the crowd and general area for trouble. He eyed the strangers from under his white Stetson, eyes momentarily widening as he recognized Gooseman from elsewhere. Looking over the women, he froze in shock. He stared hard, then blinked several times, making sure the lovely vision in front of him wasn't a mirage!
Eliza's dazzling grin stretched across her face. "'Evening, Zach," she said softly.
He gaped for several seconds before finding his voice. "_ELIZA?!_" He ran over to help her down from RB.
They hugged each other tightly before kissing for five straight minutes. It was only the low whistles, discreet coughing, and growing murmurs from the crowd that made them break it off.
Zach still held Eliza in a strong embrace. "Thank God you're back."
She lifted her head up and raised her hand, gently placing it on his cheek to reassure him. "Yes."
"But-But how did you escape?!"
"I 'checked out,' then got lucky." Eliza gestured to the young Shaolin. "Niko here saved me by distracting those good-for-nothing Raiders long enough for us to get away three times! We ran into Cody, and he gave us a lift till they derailed us." She threw a furious look at the bounty hunters. “These two folks drove the Raiders off before tying Niko up like a prize steer. They're trading her in for blood money!"
"What?!" Zach exclaimed. He marched up to O'Mega and snapped "Explain yourselves."
"Read it and weep," she snidely replied, throwing down the poster. He scanned it with a deep frown.
Gooseman glanced at the Sheriff warily, but did nothing to interfere. His attention was on the surrounding area, keeping watch for rival bounty hunters, gunslingers, and ambushes.
After several seconds, O'Mega rudely ripped the paper out of Zach's grasp. "Now, if you kind folks'll just step aside, we've got a date with the telegraph."
Zach held up a hand. "Not so fast! New Phoenix is under my authority. As Sheriff, I determine the guilt or innocence of anyone within my jurisdiction -- this town and the parts 'round here. For all I know, that poster's a forgery! The law says I have to confirm a criminal's identity before releasing her to the Rangers, Feds, OR bounty hunters. That same statute orders me to hold your prisoner in jail till we get an answer."
Her blue eyes shot sparks at him. "You're bluffing, Sheriff."
He shrugged. "Feel free to read it at the Records Office," he replied, jabbing a thumb down the street at a yellow-paneled three-story building. Zach's eyes narrowed as he went on with "And if you want to know how it got passed, I've got two words: Supertrooper Massacre."
They locked stares, neither one moving an inch.
Finally, Daisy relented. "Your town -- but I'll look over that there statute JUST to be sure!"
Zach nodded and turned back to the others. Pulling Daley over, he ordered the Deputy to call BETA Mountain over the telegraph to get what information they had on Niko, Gooseman, and O'Mega.
Eliza and Doc were helping a pale-faced, sweating Cody into the Sheriff's Office.
O'Mega motioned Gooseman closer and hissed "I'm headin' to the telegraph office afterwards. Keep both yer eyes on that bounty; I have NO intention of lettin' her go!"
"Me neither," he murmured. When Daisy's gaze left his face, he shot a look at Niko; something was wrong, more than just getting captured, and he aimed to find out what.
The remaining Deputies dispersed the crowd.
"Move along, folks!" Lock urged.
"Show's over!" Rowley called out.
Zach strode up to Gooseman. "Get her down and follow me. I'll escort you folks in."
"'Preciate it, Sheriff," Gooseman replied. He untied Niko from the horse and helped her dismount.
Niko remained quiet, oblivious to the curious glances shot her way.
O'Mega got a deadly gleam in her eye. As Niko passed by, she reached down and grabbed her hair. Tugging painfully, she hissed "Don't get too comfortable, Chinawoman. You're mine!"
Zach glared at O'Mega. "At ease, before I haul you in!"
"Lay off, Daisy," Gooseman warned. "Remember, we get more money for a LIVE capture!"
Niko turned her face up. "The only thing one truly owns is oneself."
O'Mega snarled and slapped her head back, knocking Niko to the ground. "Save yer yammering for someone who cares." Laughing, she turned her horse towards the Records Office and rode there at a brisk pace.
Zach helped Niko back up. "Are you all right?"
She nodded silently.
He and Gooseman took her to the jail while the remaining Deputies tethered the horses.
Once inside, they saw an unconscious Cody lying facedown on Zach's desk with Doc frantically trying to save him. Blood gushed all over the back wound as the younger man worked fervently to stop it. After several tense minutes, he succeeded by slapping it shut with some heavy-duty bandages.
Doc pushed away and cursed out loud. "Darned if I know how, but this man's still alive! He's been hit by one of those blamed 'exploding bullets' the Raiders use now! All that riding made the pieces dig deeper into him -- I don't know if I can get 'em all out in time. He's in shock, and with all the trauma to his system I can't give any painkillers because that would kill him!"
Eliza looked hopefully at Niko. "Is there anything you can do?"
The Shaolin studied Cody carefully, noting both his physical condition and the strength of his chi (or life force). Finally, she gave a terse nod. "I can help -- but my hands must be free to treat him."
"Nice try," Gooseman replied as he jabbed both pistols in her back. "You're not goin' anywhere except to that there coy jail cell."
Zach swallowed hard, hating to see his old drill sergeant in such a state. He knew from seeing his own men die in battle that Cody was a goner. He knew that the older man hadn’t much longer to live. He knew that it would be foolish to hope… but sometimes that was the only thing left to do. "Let her try. We've got nothing to lose at this point."
The bounty hunter grinned lopsidedly. "Assuming this works, THEN will you put her in a cell till word comes in?"
"Whatever it takes," was the quiet reply.
Gooseman stared hard at Zach... and saw a man he would have called friend under different circumstances. He inspired trust. *Or else I'm really goin' soft in the cabesa, like Daisy's been tellin' me.* "Fine, but YOU do the honors so’s I can keep her in my sights," Gooseman said as he backed off a bit.
The Sheriff nodded and unknotted the heavy ropes.
Once she was freed, Niko rubbed and shook out her arms to restore the circulation. When her blood was flowing again, she soundlessly walked up to Cody.
Upon closer inspection, she found that his eyes were sunken in a rapidly graying face. His skin grew colder and colder. His pulse could barely be felt and the heartbeat was dropping rapidly.
Niko knew she had to work fast.
Withdrawing a tiny pouch from her bag, she sprinkled a few orange and red herbs into her palm. Crushing them between her fingers, she sprinkled the resulting powder on Cody's tongue and helped him to swallow it. His pulse immediately sped up.
She worked intensely with pressure points all over his body for a few minutes, encouraging his natural defenses to fight back. Cody's skin regained its warmth.
When that was done, she gently removed the bandage and placed both hands over the wound. Breathing deeply, her eyes turned deep violet as she summoned her own chi. Looking into Cody's body, she "saw" all the gray pieces of shrapnel digging into him. She visualized her energy as a steady golden stream entering the wound. Working slowly but surely, she got a telekinetic grip on all the bullet fragments and held them in place. She then delicately “pulled” the surrounding tissues away while stemming the flow of blood. One by one, she moved all ten pieces out of Cody; the process looked like jagged shards of metal flowed out on a thin stream of blood from his body.
After cleaning and resealing the wound, Niko gave a faint smile. “Cody has a very strong spirit. He must rest for several days and drink plenty of fluids. He will live.”
She almost fainted.
Eliza caught her, gently sitting the younger woman down. "Rest, hon. You did good."
"She sure did!" Doc crowed, looking at his much-improved patient in fascination. Cody's sleeping face slowly regained its color and his heart beat steady and strong.
Before Doc could express his thanks, Gooseman hauled a still-groggy Niko out of her seat and held a gun to her heart. "Open that cell, Sheriff; the sooner my prisoner's in there, the better."
If looks could kill, the bounty hunter would have been dead from three directions.
"Very well," Zach sighed, "a deal's a deal." He unlocked the nearest cell and opened the door.
Gooseman maintained a firm grip on a stumbling Niko as he escorted her inside. Once there, her legs gave out again as she fell unconscious. He swung her into his arms and placed her on the jail cot, pulling the blanket over her. Resting a hand on her sleeping cheek, he felt strangely protective of her.
"Take your hands off her," Eliza growled as she knelt beside Niko to make sure she was all right.
"She's all right, Eliza -- poor thing's just tuckered out," Doc advised.
"Outside, everyone," Zach ordered. The other three filed out right before he locked the door.
Eliza shook her head in sorrow. "I'll explain everything about her later -- but first thing's first. The Queen plans to attack New Phoenix tomorrow and steal the gold shipment." She pulled out her map and explained the details to Zach and Doc.
Both immediately ran out to hail all the nearest lawmen within three blocks, telling them to spread the word to meet inside the Town Hall in one hour.
Storm clouds thundered in from the east, quickly overtaking the full Moon.
Daley ran up to Zach and handed him three folded pieces of crisp white paper. The Sheriff read them, then said thanks and told him to gather the others for the meeting.
Coming back in, he and Doc were met with a stony silence broken only by Cody's snoring. Eliza marched towards the younger bounty hunter, who was leaning against the cell door.
Zach saw that Eliza was ready to give Gooseman an earful and went over to her, just in case.
She stared up at the dark-clad man, who in turn stood taller to intimidate her.
It didn't work.
"You bounty hunters are ALL alike!" she exploded, jabbing a finger into his chest. "Just caring about that filthy money of yours while good folks get killed!"
"Listen, ma'am, that lady's a murderer!" Gooseman snapped back. "Her own blamed country is offering enough money to have half the bounty hunters after her hide -- and the better ones at that! Why in blazes are you so danged protective of her, anyhow?"
"I'd like know that myself, Eliza," Zach quietly added, "and what REALLY happened in China. If she didn't kill on purpose, why is she being hunted down?"
She sighed and rubbed her eyes; it had been a long day for her. "I'll start at the beginning." Sitting down wearily behind Zach's desk, where Cody was beginning to wake up, she told them Niko's past and her present predicament.
When she finished, all four men looked grim.
"I should've trusted her," Cody said in a remorseful tone. "Here she saves me even after I say all them nasty things to her. I feel like a heel." He groaned and struggled to sit up, but Doc gently pushed him back down and advised rest.
"All that Shaolin stuff does explain a lot," Doc added once Cody had fallen back asleep. He looked over at Niko. "I've never seen anyone so serene -- and that trick she pulled on Cody...! I have _got_ to go the Orient someday; it's way ahead of our medicine in some respects."
"And in manners, apparently," Zach continued as he looked thoughtfully at Niko's slumbering form. He shook his head in sorrow. "That poor girl. To run all her life because of what she did... well, I don't know who'd act any different."
He moved behind Eliza and started massaging her shoulders.
She leaned back and smiled, then grew serious again. "Zach, there has to be something we can do!"
He silently handed her Niko's telegraph paper.
Doc came over to read it with her. Identical expressions of shock came over their faces as their eyes confirmed that the bounty was genuine.
Zach held up a hand to hold off their questions. "We'll talk more about this, but not here," he said in a low voice as he jerked his head in Gooseman's direction.
The others nodded and read the papers on Gooseman and O'Mega. They gave the young man a quick, surprised glance before helping Zach devise a plan for the impending Raider attack.
Gooseman had kept silent during Eliza's tale, leaning against a nearby wall as he kept a sharp watch on his prisoner. Shadows obscured his expression as he pondered this new information. *Now I know why she felt so familiar. This Niko's been through the same things I have.*
His mind drifted back to the Supertroopers: his unit, his tribe, his family for all intents and purposes before the Massacre... *NO!* he angrily thought to himself. *It's over. It's done. I'm the only one left!*
He had fond memories of growing up as a member of the Supertrooper tribe in the Great Plains. As an orphan conscripted into being raised and used as a killer in the government's suicide squad like so many others, he had arrived just when the Supertroopers escaped after being locked up by the Union during the Civil War. They had adopted him and the other new children, making them family. Fleeing to Indian Territory, the native tribes made them welcome. For the next ten years of his life, Shane was taught and cared for by many mothers and fathers.
The opening of the West to settlement put an end to all that: one fateful winter night, a force of government troops came down HARD on the colony. They didn’t bother distinguishing the Supertroopers from civilians, even though they had memorized the faces from Wanted posters beforehand, but shot everyone in sight.
It turned into a bloodbath.
Out of two hundred people living there, one hundred ninety-two were killed including all the babies, children, and innocent settlers who just wanted a better life for themselves.
Seven Supertroopers escaped to become outlaws.
Shane Gooseman was the sole survivor. He was captured to prove that the others were dead. The military wanted to put him on trial as a traitor, but Gooseman got a surprise ally in Commander Joseph Walsh. He defended Shane by rightfully pointing out that since the young man had been captured and raised by the Supertroopers, there was no way he had ever willingly betrayed the United States. The tribunal agreed to drop the charges and release Gooseman into Walsh's custody under three conditions: undergo full military training in the Commander's new post in the Far West, prove himself as a Ranger there, and become a bounty hunter to capture his friends.
In the end, Gooseman had no choice: it was either that or death. He accepted the tribunal's terms.
Walsh had immediately taken Gooseman to BETA Mountain and pushed him through the most vigorous training ever devised. The young man survived it without one complaint and became the best Ranger under the Commander's watch. The five years he had spent there saw the crime rate drop to zero and most of the territory's gangs arrested. It also had Gooseman capture most of the escaped Supertroopers, most of who had become viscous killers.
When all his Supertrooper bounties were done, Gooseman immediately handed in his resignation to Walsh and left. He wanted nothing more to do with law enforcement or the military. Bounty hunters did good business, so Gooseman became one of the deadliest ones known in the West.
A year ago he paired up with Daisy O'Mega, a fiery-tempered gunslinger who shot first, asked questions later, and loved money first and foremost. They became good partners... and so much more. He didn’t even mind taking a backseat to her, as long as the money was good.
Gooseman liked Daisy because he knew where she stood and what she wanted.
But he didn't LOVE her, thinking that emotion was impossible for people like him.
Ever since Darkstar had chosen Stingray, he had shut down the caring, vulnerable part of himself as a weakness. Even with his flings with other women, he had always kept it locked up tight. They had sensed it within him, but he always left whenever they tried to draw it out. When Niko had brought that part rushing back with that blasted innocent gaze of hers, Gooseman had shoved it away again, but it kept whispering at him.
He didn't need anyone.
He could take care of himself.
He was perfectly happy being alone in spirit -- until meeting Niko, who somehow filled up the empty parts inside him without saying a word.
"Hey, darlin'. Gatherin' wool?"
He turned his lady-killer smile on Daisy. "Naw, just passin' time keeping watch on the bounty. What's the latest news?"
"Them Chinese reps'll be here at high noon. Seein' as how you've gotten no sleep for the past couple o' days, it's my turn to stand watch," she nodded at Niko's still form.
"Thanks, Daisy," Gooseman replied tiredly. "I'll just prop myself here in the corner and catch some shut-eye. Holler if ya need me, hear?" He fell asleep standing up, hands over his holsters ready to draw at a moment’s notice.
She strode up to Zach with a cocky grin on her face. "You get the okay yet, Sheriff?"
He nodded tersely. "Yes. The bounty is legitimate."
"Then we'll be outta here by midday tomorrow. Pleasure doin' business with ya." She gave Eliza a snide smile before taking position outside Niko's cell, her eyes never leaving the younger woman.
Zach held his wife back, blocking her path to O'Mega by using his body. "Not now, honey," he murmured while steering her back to the desk, "but soon. Very soon, I promise. Would you mind keeping an eye on Niko while the rest of us prepare a cold welcome for the Raiders?"
“And on Cody?” Doc chipped in while checking the older man’s pulse. “I want him to get some rest before moving him to my clinic.”
"It’ll be my pleasure," Eliza smiled, looking from Zach to Doc and back. She twisted around in her husband’s arms and pulled his head down for a soul-searing kiss. When they came back up for air, she whispered "I love you, Zach."
"And I you," he grinned back, his eyes never leaving hers as he raised her hand to kiss it. "From the moment we first met."
She lightly slapped his shoulder. "Sweet-talker," she laughed. "Get out there and lead your troops. We'll be just fine here."
Shaking his head in amusement, Zach left.
Doc followed with a big grin on his face. “’Sweet-talker,’” he mimicked in a bad impression of Eliza’s voice. “And they call ME the rogue!”
Zach valiantly tried to maintain a straight face, then burst out laughing.
TO BE CONTINUED
GO ON TO I AM... NIKO: CHAPTER 4 RETURN TO I AM... NIKO: CHAPTER 2
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.