From:	"Buma " <CaptKisad@aol.com> Save Address - Block Sender
Reply-To:	RangerLegacy@egroups.com
To:	RangerLegacy@egroups.com Save Address
Subject:	[RangerLegacy] My First Fanfic. :)
Date:	Mon, 03 Apr 2000 13:18:46 -0000

Robert Shaffer
mIRC - KS1
Character name - Ranger Dexter Halley


Here is the Story:

Ranger Halley Journals
By Robert Shaffer
Based in the Galaxy Rangers Universe.

****WARNING****WARNING****WARINING****WARNING****WARNING****WARNING***
*WARNING**

THIS WORK OF FICTION CONTAINS NONE OF THE GR5 SERIES TEAM MEMBERS.
PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY THIS. 

THANK YOU


        Within the vast darkness, a slight hole opened up in the
fabric of space and a small blue fighter ship emerged.  The ship was
heading towards the small planet it called home, Earth.  Clearance
was granted and the ship entered the atmosphere piercing it like a
knife through butter.  Ranger Dexter Halley was returning to B.E.T.A.
Mountain after his last assignment.  He landed his Ranger Interceptor
in hanger bay 5. The technicians unstrapped the Ranger and pointed
him towards the elevators.

"Commander Walsh wants to see you ASAP," said the First Technician
before returning to her work.
        "All right I'm going, sheesh, after 26 hours in this ship. You
would think they would let me relax first." Dexter mumbled to himself.

        Dexter headed towards the elevator and sighing heavily as he
requested the main level where the briefing room was.  He checked
himself over in the polished surface of the elevator.  He
straightened his black hair out and made sure there was no wrinkles
in his uniform on his six foot four frame.  The doors opened and he
walked over to the room and entered.  Commander Walsh was sitting
behind his desk reviewing some files when he looked up and noticed
Ranger Halley.

        "Dexter, welcome back.  Sorry to rush you in, something just
came across my desk while you were landing."  Walsh said.
        "Can it wait Commander?  I'm very tired from the trip and
still need to file some notes on the last case," Dexter said, his
voice betraying his weariness.
        "Not really, the Series 5 team is on assignment in the
Lacunato sector.  So I need you to head this up. " He turned the view
screen on behind him. "This is a Gala event going on in two days time
at Dactora 5 and I need you to cover the Security Detail."
        "Come on Commander, there are enough rangers to cover that
event. Why me?"
        "Because word has it that J'con will be there and he's
planning an assassination on one of the delegates.  You remember
J'con."
        "Yeah, I remember, it was on my first case when I joined the
Rangers 5 years ago." He held up his left hand. "I still have that
scar he left me when he got away.  I though he was dead."
        "Well, we thought so to, but reliable sources say that he
will be at this party and I want you there, since you've dealt with
him in the past."
        "All right, I'll go.  Do we have any idea on who the lucky
stiff will be?"
        "Luckily there are only 20 delegates at this event.  10 of
them have already received a message that they will not see the end
of the event.
All the information will be uploaded into your interceptor."
        "Just great, I guess I can sleep on the way there."
        "Also, one more thing. Go see Q-Ball, he has a surprise for
you," the Commander said, a small smile coming to his face.
        "All right.  I'll give you details as they come up,
Commander."
        "Thanks again Dexter. See you soon."

        Dexter saluted, turned around and left the room.  He got on
to the elevator and requested the R&D lab.  He started to think about
his first case 5 years ago with J'con.



        Dexter was fresh out of the academy and full of excitement of
receiving his first assignment.  He was sent off to the Kalla Sector
to meet his partner.  Ranger Jamieson was there and informed him of
the specifics on the mission.  J'con, a known terrorist, was bombing
several League buildings and leaving parts of victims that he
kidnapped from the previous bombing.  Ranger Jamieson wanted to catch
him before he took out another building and B.E.T.A. predicted that
the next target would be in Kalla.

She had been tracking him for 6 months now and was always close to
catching him.  Several days went by before there was any sign of the
terrorist.  That changed when a building suddenly exploded.  Ranger
Jamieson was on the scene instantly and chased J'con down an alley,
ordering Dexter to cover her. J'con said something and next thing
Dexter knew, the side of the building exploded downward and caught
Jamieson in the blast.  Dexter rushed in to help her, but it was to
late. Jamieson was killed in the blast and J'con came up right behind
him and struck Dexter in the back of the head with a brick.   Dexter
was lying there and J'con took the badge off of Jamieson and cut
Dexter's left hand with it.  "Next time we meet Ranger, I'll give you
the badge back."  Then he disappeared.  Dexter later woke up in the
hospital, to hear Q-Ball explaining how Dexter had a Series 4 implant
and that it was permanent.



Dexter exited the elevator and walked into Q-Ball's lab.  Q-Ball was
over in the corner tinkering on some sort of device.  With a wicked
grin and cat-like reflexes Dexter slowly snuck up on him and dropped
a hyper wrench on the ground. Q-Ball got spooked and dropped his tool
into the device and causing it to short. Sparks flew and whiffs of
black smoke rose.

        "Dammit Dexter, will you quit doing that." Q-Ball said his
voice sounding annoyed. "It's bad enough Buzzwang comes around and
accidentally shocks me with something. I have to look out for you
too. "
        "Sorry Q-Ball, just felt the need for some stress relief, you
were looking pretty intense."
        "Thanks a lot. The only reason I'm tense is the fact I've
been finishing up my latest project for you."
        "Oh?  Where is it?" Dexter asked while looking around the
room
        "Over there," he said, pointing to a blue tarp covered
table. "I know you don't like partners since your first case, and the
Cybersteeds are kinda large to have around. So I built you something."
        "Thanks Q, what did you build?"
        "Well, help me with the tarp."

        Dexter lifted one corner, while Q-Ball grabbed the other
one.  In one movement the tarp was on the ground and lying on the
table was a robotic animal.  It looked like a dog, about the size of
a German shepherd. It had a bluish steel scheme, with black markings
on his legs and facial area.  The shoulders had mounting hard points;
the head was in a sort of sleep mode.

        "Dexter, meet your new partner.  Aries named after the god of
war.  He is the first Cyber K-9.  He has the AI capabilities of the
Cybersteeds but in a smaller package."
        "Are you kidding me?  How am I suppose to talk to a dog?"
Dexter asked, not sure of this new partner.
        "Umm, Dexter. Aries responds just like the Cybersteeds.  He
has full speech and translator abilities.  Plus he has some hard
points where you can mount items to him to make him mission specific."
        "How long has he been online?"
        "At least a week now.  He seems to have all the bugs worked
out. Plus he has a beam laser mounted inside his upper right front
leg, to help protect you."
        "Ok, so how do I turn him on?" He made a joke of looking for
the extension cord to plug Aries in.
        "Actually, I have been on, trying to get some sleep while
listening to you two." Aries said.
        "So you were eavesdropping huh? " Dexter said.
        "No sleeping, but you two woke me up." Aries started to move
and stretch a little. "I was wondering when I would meet you Dexter. 
Q-Ball has told me who my partner would be and I have reviewed what I
could read in your personnel file. Quite impressive."
        "Thanks Aries. Are you ready to go?"
        "Go? Go where? You need to spend sometime to train with
Aries." Q-Ball said.
        "Commander Walsh needs me to go to Dactora 5 for a security
detail."
        "That's impossible. He told me you would be here at B.E.T.A.
for a week for this training." Q-Ball said.
        "Well, plans change.  I have to leave as soon as possible."
        "I'm ready to go, just got to pack up my charging gear and
store it in your interceptor." Aries said.
        "Ok. Let's go then." Dexter said.
        "I'll make sure the gear gets to the ship." Q-Ball said.
        "Thanks, also I need to charge up my badge first." Dexter
said.
        "Ok, just go step in the charging chamber." Q-Ball said.

        Dexter walked through the door and stepped on the pad.  He
could see Q-Ball adjusting some dials and moved the charging switch. 
No matter how many times he's been the chamber, it always feels like
the first time.



        After three days of being in the hospital, Q-Ball brought him
to the charging chamber for the first time.  He pointed to the pad
and went behind the glass.  Dexter felt a tingle around him and
watched a yellow light move around him going up and down. Then it was
over and Q-Ball told him to come back in. Q-Ball explained that his
implant creates a low-level force field around him that gives him
some degree of protection but not much.  After tapping his badge, the
force field will become like a spacesuit around him and provides more
armor to protect him.  He instructed to use the badge sparingly since
the technology is new and he wasn't sure how many taps he gets per
charge.  Dexter now was an enhanced human.



        The charge was over and he stepped out of the chamber.  He
headed back into the lab and made sure Aries was following him. 
Dexter got into the elevator and requested Hanger bay 5.  The doors
opened they both stepped out.

        "Which ship is yours Dexter?" Aries said.
        "The fifth one down on the left, next to the Ranger
Explorer."
        "Nice, a Ranger Interceptor."
        "Thanks, she's only a couple of months old. I had to get a
new one when the Black Hole Gang took a chunk out of the last one."
        "That's got to hurt."
        "Yeah, but at least the were able to save the AI unit."

        Aries nodded and they both walked to the ship.  Dexter went
to the side of the vessel and pushed a green button. The panel slid
back and the cargo hold opened up.  One of the technicians came over
with a hovercart full of devices.  He put them all in the cargo
hold.  Dexter closed the panel and opened the cockpit of the ship.
Aries jumped in and sat in the passenger side. Dexter settled into
the pilot's seat.

        "Sela, up and running." Dexter said. The ship activated and
the AI unit came online.
  "Hello Dexter. Are we leaving again?" Sela asked.
  "I'm afraid so, check you databanks. Commander Walsh inputted new
information on our next mission."
  "Copy on that, also who is the new addition to the team?"
  "This is Aries, the first Cyber K-9 unit in the Rangers."
  "Greetings Sela." Aries said.
  "Greetings back Aries, hope our relationship is a long one."
  "I'm pretty sure it will be." Aries said.
  "Dexter, I've accessed the information and have programmed it into
the Hyperspacial nav system. Whenever you are ready to leave
B.E.T.A., let me know." Sela said.
  "Roger Sela, get clearance from Hanger control and let's go."
  "Clearance has been granted." Sela said.

        The ship started to hover and move out of the hanger bay and
slip into a launch tube.  The rings in front of the ship lit up and
the ship expelled out of the tube and was heading into outer space.
  "Dexter, how long is the trip to Dactora 5?" Aries said.
  "Give or take in hyperspace, I would say 15 hours.  So we would be
arriving to the event right before it starts."
  "What is the mission about?" Aries said.
        "Go ahead and plug into the ship's database. It'll explain
all. Right now I need to get some shut eye."  Dexter said.

        Aries' right chest piece opened up and a datalink appeared.
The link found the access port and he plugged himself in.  Dexter
closed his eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.



        Dexter saw himself at Commander Walsh's desk back at B.E.T.A.
Walsh was looking over the mission notes and was watching Dexter ever
so often.  Dexter fidgeted and was trying to look straight ahead. 
Walsh put down the file and explained that due to him losing a
partner, he was required to take a leave of absence until the matter
was cleared up, just for investigation purposes. Dexter wasn't going
to be held liable for his partner's death.  He emitted a sigh of
relief. Walsh then dismissed him.  He left the room and walked over
to a window overlooking the forest near B.E.T.A.  He all of a sudden
had a flashback to that day Jamieson lost her life and he kept
watching himself not running fast enough to save her. The Doctor said
that it was survivor guilt and that only time would heal it.  He
vowed that he would capture J'con and be the one to bring him in.



        Dexter was shook awake and saw Aries next to him. Aries was
pointing to something on the screen.  Dexter looked closer and saw
three ships heading towards him.
        "Sela, identify the three ships."
        "All three ships register as one man scout vessels.  Markings
seemed to be from Dactora 5, but we are still 6 hours away from their
sector." Sela said.
        "Open a hailing channel."
        "Channel opened."
        "Greetings Dactora vessels. This is Ranger Halley from
B.E.T.A.
Mountain."
        "Greetings Ranger Halley. This Dactora patrol Taku 23."
        "A little far from home aren't you?
        "We were told to intercept you and escort you to the
homeworld."
        "Oh? What happened?"
        "Can't explain here, unsecured comlink. Just follow us back."
        "Copy on that. Close channel." Dexter said.

        The three ships turned around and flew in an arrow head
formation with Dexter's ship in the center.  Dexter settled back and
contacted B.E.T.A. command.  A couple of minutes went by and the
comlink opened.
        "B.E.T.A. Command here, identify yourself."
        "Ranger Dexter Halley."
        "Greetings Ranger Halley, what can I do for you?"
        "Commander Walsh, please."
        "Transferring link, standby."
        A few more seconds passed.
        "Commander Walsh here."
        "Hello Commander. I have an update already."
        "Oh?" Walsh seemed a little surprised.
        "Yes, sir.  3 Dactora ships have already met me and are
escorting me to Dactora 5.  No explanation, just that they were told
to contact and escort me."
        "That is strange.  I'll check things on my end and figure out
what is going on. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
        "Thanks Commander. Dexter out."

        The comlink went silent. Dexter looked over and saw that
Aries went back to sleep mode.  He was thinking that wasn't a bad
idea.  Six hours later and Sela was waking up Dexter with an alarm.

        "Ok, Sela. I'm awake what is going on?" Dexter said.
        "We are just entering the atmosphere. The fighter escort
wants us to land on pad C."
        "Ok. Go ahead and land and do a systems check after that."
        "Copy that Dexter."

        The ship swung around to the left of the pad and landed on
the three landing struts.  The fighter escort landed a few feet away
from his vessel.  Power conduits came out of the pad and attached
themselves to the ship.  Dexter opened up the cockpit and climbed
out.  Aries followed behind him.  A group of guards walked up to him
and parted in the middle.  A small frame bipedal alien stepped up to
him.

        "Ranger Halley, I presume? Said the alien.
        "That's correct and you are?
        "Minister Tolknock.  I'm in charge of the diplomatic branch."
        "Ok, I was informed that you were my contact.  What is with
the escort?"
        "I do apologize for that. After ten delegates received the
threats. I felt it would be better if I made sure they were protected
and you arrived safely."
        "Understood. This canine here is my partner Aries. I'll have
someone watching my back for me."
        "Hello Aries." Tolknock said.
        "Greetings Minister."
        "Let's get you both inside and I'll show you the notes the
delegates received." Tolknock said.
        "Ok, lead the way." Dexter said.



        The Minister turned around and disappeared into his guard
escort.  Dexter and Aries followed them to what looked like an
elevator and they went underground.  A few went by and the doors
opened.  The group moved down the hallway and into a large room. The
guards stayed outside and the rest went inside.  Dexter sat down at
the round desk and Aries took watch.  The Minister produced a
triangle device and a small hum emitted.  The device produced the
notes onto the wall. 

        "The notes were sent in different ways but they all arrived
to this planet and delivered to the delegates." Tolknock said.
        "I see that this person wanted the members think that a whole
group wants to hurt them but everything was sent by one person."
Dexter said.
        "And how do you conclude that?" Tolknock said.
        "Well, look at the notes themselves, every one of them has
the same word content. But did you notice that each one has a couple
of words that are different?
        Tolknock looked closer, "That's interesting."
        "Aries, can you find all the words and see what we have?"
        "Analyzing." Aries said.

        A few seconds went by and Aries reproduced on the wall the
words that didn't match with all the notes.  Dexter looked over the
new list and started to piece what he could find.  Several of the
words fit, but some how they didn't seem to be all there.

        "Minister, has any messages arrived for me yet?" Dexter asked.
        "Not to my knowledge. I didn't know you were coming until
Commander Walsh contacted me."
        "I would check the incoming messages for this event. I have
hunch that there is a message."
        "Ok, I'll be right back." The minister left the room.
        "Ok, Partner, what do you think this message says?" Aries
asked.
        "I think that it will give me the location of where the next
message is."
        "The Minister walked back in. "Ranger, there was a message
for you.  But it looks like a bill."
        Dexter looked over the note. "Bingo, here is the missing
piece.  If I put them all together, here it is, I need to get to your
warehouse area."
        "That would be 10 kilometers from here." Tolknock said.
        "Ok, I need a hovercar and I'll keep you informed on what
happens."
        "Ok, I'll have one waiting outside."

        Dexter and Aries left the room and went outside of the
building.  The hovercar drove up and two guards got out.  They both
climbed in and left the building heading towards the warehouse area. 
Several minutes passed and they arrived at the warehouse.  They both
got out; Aries initiated a scan of the place.

        "This is strange Dexter, my scanners are showing several hot
spots, but nothing that indicates a lifeform." Aries said with a
puzzled voice.
        "Ok, You take point and you keep scanning. I have a feeling
our package is in the next building over." Dexter unholstered his
blaster and proceeded to the next building.

        Aries moved along silently with his beam laser out.  Dexter
listened to the silence and got up to the door.  Aries pushed the
door with his nose and peeked inside.  The place was deserted and
needed a good dusting. He slowly moved inside and his scanners locked
onto a box on a table in the center of the room. The box seemed to
have been there a couple of days, no dust on it and there was no heat
signature coming from it.  The rest of the building was cold.  Aries
motioned with his head for Dexter to come in.

        "The coast is clear, Dexter." Aries said with
confidence. "The scanners only pick up this box and no heat
signatures anywhere in the building."
        "Ok, let's find out what J'con left for us." Dexter
cautiously said.

        Dexter moved closer and noticed that the box was metal and
had a simple clasp on it, with a piece of paper taped to it. The
paper was address to him.  He reached over and picked the paper up
and started to read it.

        'Hello Dexter, I see you got my message. I am glad we could
still continue our game from when we first started. To bad your
partner didn't make it to the bonus round.  Now, you are wondering
what I plan to do. That is quite simple. I plan to finish off the
only person that didn't finish my game. The delegates won't be
harmed. I just wish to return the badge to you.  Now, inside the box
is a clue to my location. You must be able to put the clues together
in order to find me. See you soon.'

        Dexter reached down, undid the clasp and opened the box
slowly. Inside the box was a map of the city.  He picked it up and
looked at it. The city hall building was circled in red.  He looked
past the map and noticed a small tracking device in the box, plus
there was something with a counter with the numbers reading
backwards.  He grabbed the map, the tracking device and yelled for
Aries to get the hell out of there. Both started to run for the door
and got out of the warehouse.  A few seconds later the building
exploded and parts of the building were raining down around them.

        "I thought that was too easy." Dexter said out of breath.
        "Sorry I didn't detect the bomb, nothing came up on my
scanners."
        "Don't apologize, J'con makes some interesting bombs, let's
get out of here. We have a date with city hall." Dexter got up and
brushed himself off.



        Both headed back to the hovercar and got in. Dexter looked at
the tracking device, but it didn't seem to be working.  They drove to
city hall, parked the vehicle and got out.  The tracking device
started to beep and a little message started to play.

        'Congratulations Ranger, you made it.  I was hoping after all
these
years, you were still fit to move. Now, go inside and find the next
clue.'

        The message stopped and the device kept on beeping. Dexter
held the device out and read the distance on the map.  Both went
inside the city hall and headed for the elevator. The device was
reading that something was on the fifth floor. They both got out and
started to search.  Aries turned on his sensors and started a sweep. 
He went ahead of Dexter.  The device pointed to the Mayor's office. 
They both got up to the door and knocked, no answer. Aries pushed on
the door and it opened. He looked inside; his sensors informed him
that there was one lifeform in the back office and some type of box
sitting on the desk in the back office.  Dexter followed him in and
cautiously looked around.  Everything in the office seemed to be in
place.  The door to the back office was slightly open.  Both got up
to the door and peeked inside.  There was a woman sitting at the desk
and she appeared to be gagged and tied to the desk.  Aries walked in
first, Dexter followed behind.

        "Ok, Ma'am, please stay calm. We will get you out of this."
Aries said calmly.
        "Aries, go see if you can get that box out of here. I'll
untie the woman." Dexter nervously said.

        Aries went up to the box and grabbed one of the handles with
his teeth and slid the box off the table without tilting the contents
too much and carried it to the other room. Dexter got the ropes off
the woman, plus the gag.

        "Please get out of here, he's going to come back any minute."
She said excitedly.
        "Don't worry, we'll catch him. Your safety is our concern.
Let's go." Dexter got her on her feet and pushed out of the room.

        Aries was fiddling with the clasp on the box.  Dexter grabbed
the woman by the arm and dragged her outside. They both ran down the
hall and down the emergency fire escape. Dexter's comlink beeped.

        "Dexter, I can disarm this bomb before anyone gets hurt. Just
clear the area." Aries calmly stated.
        "Don't even think about it, just get out of there until the
bomb squad arrives. As long as we don't touch the box it won't go
off." Dexter said with urgency.
        "We can't afford that risk, just a couple more wires..." The
comlink went dead and Dexter heard a small explosion.
        "ARIES! ARIES! PLEASE RESPOND!" The comlink was still
dead. "DAMN YOU J'CON! I am going to find you and make you pay for
the death of both my partners" Dexter screamed.
        "Really, and how do you plan to do that?" The woman looked at
Dexter. "I didn't think you were going to be that quick. Didn't have
time to finish all my traps." She produced a Galaxy Ranger badge out
of her suit pocket. "Look familiar?" She grins devilishly.
        "J'con?" Dexter said confused.
        "The one and the same, but not quite. Miracle of surgery in
this day and age. How do you think I was able to stay hidden all this
years." She produced a blaster and pointed it at Dexter. "Say good
night Ranger, game over."
        Dexter hit his badge as she pulled the trigger. The armor
formed
around him and he lunged for J'con.  The shot bounced off the armor,
Dexter grabbed the blaster, pointed it away from him and knocks J'con
to the ground.  J'con struggles and knocks Dexter back. She gets up
and kicks him in the chest.
        "Feeling good Ranger?" She said with a wild look in her eyes.
        "No pain. Surgery has changed me also." Dexter grabbed her
foot and knocks her against the wall.
        J'con slides down and kicks Dexter in the legs and knocks him
off balance. He rolls with the fall and was able to hit J'con in the
leg and knock her down.  She pulls out a knife and stabs him in the
leg.  The armor stops the blade from going in. He turns and punches
her in the chest and takes the wind out of her. She slumps down and
out of breathe. Dexter pulls out a pair of handcuffs and gets them on
her. He reached down and picked up Jamieson's badge and put it in his
pocket.

        "The way I am going to make you pay is to stand trial. If I
killed you, I would be no better then you. Come on, get up and let's
go." Dexter drags her out of the building to the local cops waiting
outside.

        The locals took J'con into custody and Dexter noticed that
parts of Aries was all over his hovercar.  On the hood was Aries
head, Dexter picked it up and looked it over.

        "Damn Aries, why didn't you listen to me. You didn't have to
die. I was starting to like you." Dexter was saying misty eyed.
        The head buzzed for a second and the eyes lit up. "I liked
you too partner." Aries head then went dead.



        The sun was shining high over B.E.T.A. Mountain and there
stood a figure looking out of Commander Walsh's window.  The figure
turned around and sat at the desk and picked up some papers.
Commander Walsh looked over the report and looked up at Dexter
standing in front of his desk.
        "Nice job on the capture of J'con. I would never have thought
he became a woman. I'm sorry to tell you that Aries is beyond repair.
Q-Ball gave me the report earlier today. Most of his systems are in
pieces. But there is one piece of good news." Commander Walsh gave a
smile and pointed towards the door.

        The door slid opened, in walked Q-Ball and another Cyber K-
9.  The robotic animal had a gray steel scheme with black markings on
the legs and facial area. The head turned and looked at Dexter.
Dexter noticed something familiar about the eyes.

        "Aries?" Dexter said with surprise.
        "The new and improved Aries.  Q-Ball happened to have a spare
body in the shop." Aries smiled.
        "Well, I couldn't repair his old body, but his AI stayed
intact after the blast. I just had to transfer it to the new body." Q-
Ball stated with a smile.

        "Well, now that you are back together, I think Jamieson would
approve of you to have this." Dexter reached down and attached
Jamieson's Ranger Badge to Aries' collar. "You are now a fully
authorized Ranger."  Dexter then hugged his companion. "Glad to have
you back partner."
        "Glad to be back partner and I promise, I'll listen to you
more." Aries chuckled.

        Everyone looked at each other and started to laugh. 
Commander Walsh gave him a nodding approval.  Dexter got up and with
his partner they walked out the door with Q-Ball following behind.