Summary: Esteemed mouse inventor Gadget Hackwrench is working on a new range of attire, one to survive in dangerous, hazard filled locales. However, when a rival steals the plans, a few modifications and a quick con are all that separate the mouse from captivity.

 Written during some free time to explore a selfish few thoughts my muse went down where I just felt I had to bully the poor heroic inventor-mouse. 

Word Count: 3693 

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“Gadget, you okay up here, we haven’t seen you since yesterday!” Chip called, entering the inventive mouse’s workshop.

She woke with a start, having been napping at her desk, plans and strange materials lying around. “Ugh, h-hey Chip, oh is it tomorrow already? I must have gotten carried away overnight.” She replied, collecting the sketches and scribbles scattered around her into one pile. Chip peeked at one, seeing a sketch of the rest of the rangers in a spread pose.

“What were you working on? Clothes?”

“Suits! There are some dangerous areas out there and I want to be sure I have something that can protect us all. You remember that time you two were nearly lost in space?”

Chip pulled a face that showed how well he remembered the occurrence.

Gadget smirked and nodded, carrying on her explanation. “Well, it got me thinking, I want to build something proper that will suit us for that and other environments, under water, in toxic or radioactive places…”

“You’re not thinking of going to any of those spots, surely?!”

“I don’t plan on going for exploring or curiosity but sometimes it falls on us to rescue others. Wouldn’t hurt to have these ready!” She said. “I just need to find anything that works on our scale.”

“Well, you’ll search easier and work happier with a full belly. Come on, the others are waiting for us.” Chip insisted, revealing his other purpose in checking up on her.

She sighed and smiled. “If you insist.”

A pair of eyes watched, a mouse not among the Rangers’ crew held her breath in the shadows. With them gone, she was free to do what she came to. Scurrying over to the work bench she looked over some of the plans. Her own twisted mind had come seeking inspirations for how to turn some of Gadget’s inventions into weapons or tools for thievery, however the talk of the protective suits had given her an idea. She rolled up the plans, tucked them away and then made her exit.

Gadget soon found out about the few missing sheets, her confusion and frustration got the better of her until Chip suggested in her exhaustion maybe she had dreamt that she’d written them out. She challenged him on that, given that he’d seen the very sketches himself. With a sigh she caught herself before it became an argument. The plans would turn up later, until they did she’d work on one of the other ideas that had been bouncing in her head.

“A mouse dares to come before me? Do you not fear my reputation?” The grey furred, aptly named Fat Cat growled, eyes on the diminutive rodent before him.

She stood unflinching and straight backed. “If you’re going to enact your power and predatory instincts to devour me, I’ve come prepared. However, I want you to listen to me first.”

“Like you’ll have anything of value but since you’re offering me tribute, who am I to decline.” He said, his tone still threatening as his hand snapped around the mouse, jaws opening.

“The Rescue Rangers.” She said, holding back from smiling too smugly when the cat froze, he shut his jaw after a moment and brought her to eye level.

“What about them?” He said.

“I know they’ve gotten in your way and gotten away with it too often. This interests me because their mechanic, the inventor, Gadget Hackwrench, has cast such a huge shadow that I am eclipsed and ignored, despite being better than her!”

“I assume there’s more reason behind bringing this to me?”

“Because I confess I don’t have the resources to match my smarts. If you give me a chance, I will have her delivered to you. Without her the Rangers will be disrupted and vulnerable, with just a little time and effort I can make sure the next time they cross you will be the last.” She said, the grip over her body had softened and slowly she was lowered back down as the cat relaxed.

“How do you intend to do that? What even makes you think you’re up to it?” He asked.

“I’ve snuck into their hideout before and made it out undetected.” She said, reaching into a satchel she’d brought and throwing down the stolen plans.

“And those scraps are?”

“Plans of hers, part of my own plans are to make some modifications in order to ensnare her.”

“Which is why you need my sponsorship. Well if it means dealing with them all, I can offer something. Though you could save us all some trouble by just telling me the location of their headquarters.” The feline drawled, smirking as he thought of all the ways he’d tried before to find it and flush out its occupants.

“You’ll pardon me, sir, that is the one bargaining chip I have. Even so, I want to make one further request; Hackwrench, I want her kept alive.”

The cat bridled a little at that, narrowing his eyes. “You’d deny me two mousey snacks. Why?”

“Once I’ve shown you my plans, I hope that will be enough to persuade you that she’d be better for play than as prey.”

“Alright, walk me through them. If I’m not convinced you’ll not be leaving this place alive, though I shall at least remember you as a courageous one. If we are to do business, what is your name?” The feline asked.

“Tansy Willows.” The mouse replied, already confident that her plans would be heard out.

Gadget had found the plans once again, never understanding how she’d misplaced them so. She was glad enough about it to forget the inconvenience; an upcoming inventors gala had been gaining traction. While it was interesting enough to visit and see what new things humans came up with, she’d received a notice that a few other inventors from the animal world were going to seize the opportunity to host an event of their own.

It had given her enough time to finish the first prototype of the hazardous material suits she’d been making, rushing the one that would fit her specifically to show off at this event.

Now here she was, the suit stored in a private room as others buzzed around to make ready for their own presentations. So far it was all in line with Tansy’s plot. The rival mouse waited for Gadget to leave her room before moving in with her own, modified version of the suit and a metal tanker she hid just behind it. In the dim light the two suits were easily confused, a pleasant shade of blue and for the bulk of them, looking almost identical. As soon as she’d replaced it, she scurried away, moving a discreet distance to a corner.

Tansy held her breath until Gadget returned. She strolled out of the corner and gasped, rushing up to the mouse like a fan. “Gadget Hackwrench? The Gadget Hackwrench?!” She said, swiftly taking her hands in her own.

“Whoa, y-yes, that’s me.” She said smiling. “You know me?”

“Know you? I’ve studied so much about you! You’re one of the greatest mouse inventors out there! Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. My name’s Tansy.” She said, removing her hands and offering one to shake.

Gadget accepted the handshake cordially. “A pleasure to meet you. Are you presenting something too?”

“Oh, yes. My room’s down that way.” She lied, scratching her head in embarrassment. “It’ll probably pale in comparison to whatever you’ve done. Haha, I’m glad this isn’t a contest.”

“Don’t sell yourself too short now, I’m sure it’ll be unique in its own way! Besides, invention is about cooperation, we all build on what came before to make new things.” Gadget consoled her.

“I.. don’t suppose. No, that would be too forward.” Tansy started, muttering to herself.

“What is it?” Gadget insisted.

“Well, might I have a peek at what you’ve made? I’d love to hear about it from a technical standpoint and the presentation stage will only offer so much time.”

Gadget grinned. “Sure! It’ll be nice to talk about it with someone who’ll understand.”

Tansy smiled softly, the corners of her lips turning sinister when Gadget took her eyes off her to open the way to the room. She bluffed and played her part well, keeping Gadget distracted enough that she didn’t notice any differences when she moved to demonstrate the suit. “Do you need a hand?” Tansy asked, moving close, knowing the opening would be noticeably tighter and might give the ploy away without her aid.

“Oh, sure!” Gadget said, down to just her underclothes. Tansy helped her step into the legs and stretched the sides open to get it over Gadget’s hips, then fed her arm into the sleeves. Gadget tried a few times with mounting confusion to slip her fingers into the gloves that should have been there. “Ugh, hang on, something got folded wrong or stuck or something. Hey, Tansy, stop for a second… Tansy?”

The other mouse pushed her back suddenly to the wall, her hand pulling a hoop hidden at the nape of the pliant suit’s neck, made of the same material. She brought it up over Gadget’s head and to the front of her neck. “Wait, stop, what’s happening?” Gadget asked in concern, her arms trying to pull at each other and get out of the garment yet without Tansy’s aid Gadget noticed how closer and more snug the fit was.

Tansy gave a smug smile and wink, further confusing Gadget and making her stomach flutter. She pushed at Gadget’s shoulder, the unexpected move knocking her down to the ground. Tansy loomed over her, an arm dipping to a hose on the ground, she brought it up, finding a hole in the suit Gadget hadn’t noticed and thrusting it in. “Tansy, please! Did you do this? What’s going on?!”

“Yes I did.” She replied, rising to twist a valve on the canister she’d secreted in here earlier, a hollow hiss of pressurised air filled the hose and started to whistle around Gadget. The suit was inflating! “This isn’t your suit. Well, it’s not the suit you thought it was, it’s a little something of my own make, custom designed for you and you alone.”

The entire suit ballooned around Gadget, steadily growing thicker, harder to move in. Every crease and fold of the inner layer slowly stretched out as the pressure grew. She swiped her hands desperately at the opening, yet stuck in fingerless balls as they were, it was already too late for her to escape on her own. The sides that covered the opening flap had made it inaccessible with their pressure, even the ring at her neck was starting to puff up into a full collar.

“Don’t worry, your instructions were good enough for me to figure out how to wear the suit you made, so I’ll be borrowing it. I’ll just put on a tinted visor, do your presentation for you, tell the other Rangers that you’ll be heading to attend something else afterwards… that should buy at least a couple of days.”

“F-for what?”

“For us to get you rehomed before anyone notices you’re missing!”

“What?!” Gadget squeaked, trying to rise, only to be knocked down by a swift push from Tansy, she just needed a light shove too, the balloon-like growth around Gadget’s legs defied her sense of balance.

“You heard me, you’re about to disappear. Then I’ll be the greatest mouse inventor, no longer fighting for a scrap of recognition.”

“Ugh, so you’re a villain after all! Let go of me, let go of me at once! You won’t sneak me out of here!”

“Oh I won’t be doing that myself, I’ve already made arrangements. Rest assured they’ll be getting you out just perfectly though.” Tansy said, reaching to the headpiece of the suit, her fingers seized Gadget’s jaw, pushing into her cheek to prise the mouth open. A round bulb in the inverted hood squashed between her jaws, then it was held in place as the hood was drawn over her head.

“Mnnh, stop it!” Gadget mumbled while Tansy used her weight to pin her down. The suit creaked and groaned as the other mouse slipped one hand underneath, hugging herself close. Treating Gadget like an inflatable bed as the suit was getting to the point of being fully filled out. She took care to tuck every last one of Gadget’s long hairs into the hood, then spent a few more moments cuddling and pressing against the futile struggles. When the suit was fully plumped, the air whistling to show it was done, she moved off, taking the hose from the suit and affixing it to the hood.

As it inflated out, the stretched rubber became translucent enough to see the pressurised mouse’s head inside, her cheeks squashed down by the inner layer of rubber. “Tnssy!” Gadget whined, struggling to raise her hands from under the other mouse. When the hood was fully prepared, Tansy closed the valves on the suit and canister, detached the tube and then rose up.

“See you later on.” She said, slipping out of the room. Gadget heard her voice dimly through the wall talking to someone else. Her puffy coated hands wrestled with the hood, with her suit, anything but the rubber creaked and squeaked, un-moved for all her efforts. It took all her strength to roll to a wall and bend her legs enough to stand. Several footsteps approached, stopping at the door and entering. Gadget’s eyes grew wider still as she recognised them, Fat Cat’s henchmen!

“Hah, a mouse balloon, the boss is gonna be pleased!” The lizard, Wart said.

“Yeah, looks like he won’t be eatin’ Pansy after all.” Mole replied.

“You mean Tansy!” Said the third. One of many rats that served the feline mastermind.

They seized Gadget, lifting her up. After a brief check to make sure the coast was clear they walked into the next room. Gadget glimpsed Tansy already dressing herself in the hazmat suit. She gave a cheeky wave as the henchmen pried apart a patch of floor, revealing a tunnel into which they pushed and pulled Gadget. Tansy moved back into Gadget’s room, making sure there was nothing out of place and then waited to steal the mouse’s cue.

Meanwhile, Gadget fought for all she could, the awkward suit squeaking, pressing into her body all over. She managed to slip out of their grasp once, yet only made it a few steps until she fell. The goons were back on her before she could rise, carrying her away from the gala, with all attendees none the wiser.

“Ooh, this is delicious. So the divide and conquer strategy paid off!” Fat Cat gloated, in a rare show of foresight he’d had Gadget’s hood removed to confirm it really was the mechanic of those irksome Rangers.

“Nnnf, y-you won’t get away with it! Guhhh!” Gadget breathed as she was tossed around between the cat’s hands. His claws stayed hidden as he kneaded and played with the inflated rubber around her.

“Oh dear, dear. In case you hadn’t noticed, I have a new sidekick on my side. One who will be sure to deal with the rest of your meddlesome friends. In fact, here she comes now.” He said, rotating her around to look.

“Tansy. How could you? Fat Cat’s pure evil!”

“I think you mean ‘powerful’.” She quipped back, before turning and bobbing her head deferentially to Fat Cat, he squirmed, feeling particularly kingly. His other henchmen never thought to give such gestures.

“What a delight you are, Miss Willows. You passed your first test with flying colours, I think this will be the start of a beautiful partnership that will rock the world.” He said, still pushing Gadget around for his amusement.

“Stop it, get off me! You can’t seriously be meaning to join him! You’ll regret it.” Gadget yelled, both her overly inflated arms pushing with no effect on the hand that grasped her. A thumb came up, pressing over her lips.

“Hush, the real geniuses are talking.” Fat Cat said, turning back to Tansy.

She grinned. “How has she been?”

“Defiant to the last, spitting out words and threats and insults. She’s quite fiery, even when she should know it’s hopeless.” He rested back in his chair, holding the captive mouse. “But you had other preparations, yes? Shall we get to it? I’m quite eager to see them.”

“Quite.” Tansy said, correctly guessing his impatience was due to his lazy nature and his own exhaustion at having to hold her. “You can drop her if you like, Boss, by now she’s exhausted herself, not that she’d put up much of a fight in all that.”
He did and even so, Gadget tried to take a swing at Tansy. She stepped to the side, pushing Gadget over and tucking her fingers between the swollen collar and her neck. “If you’ll both follow me to the room I prepared.” She said, dragging Gadget forward, not letting her rise from her awkward position.

Soon, she had the Ranger lying on a flat frame covered in a transparent film of more rubber. A hose-like tube dangled toward a machine from the far end.

Given Fat Cat’s propensity not to get his claws dirty and her own necessity to operate the mechanisms, one of his rat henchmen was busy, holding her down with her arms at her side. Gadget’s collar had been tucked into a rounded groove, keeping her from being able to move back out with the extra pressure. “What is this?” She asked.

“Another invention, well, I can’t take full credit, I just modified another existing idea from the human world. Invention is about cooperation, after all.” She said, parroting Gadget’s earlier words whilst pulling something down. Another rubber sheet, this one in opaque black was stretched taut between a similar frame, one that the rat had to pull his arms out from. It clipped together at which point the henchman was waved back. Several clasps held it shut, with the taut sheets vaguely covering the rounded shape of the squirming captive.

“And here we go.” Tansy said, flicking a switch. A loud hum filled the air as what little pockets of air remained inside the frame and sheets were pulled out. The material stiffened before their eyes, Fat Cat’s own glittering in delight as he saw the solid black adhere closely to the inflatable suit, the even pressure squeezed on the suit, making it creak and its hapless wearer groan as it all got tighter.

“Beautiful work.” The cat said admiringly.

“H-how is it tighter?” Gadget wheezed, unable to pull her arms around inside the vacbed, only wiggle and stretch them.

Tansy rolled her eyes, this wasn’t for her to be interrupting. She dug around the table, finding a muzzle she’d been building. “This one’s still a work in progress” She admitted, though she wasted no time in returning to the bound mouse and thrusting the padded mass over her snout, buckling it behind her head. “Now be quiet or I’ll force the hood back on over the top of this!”

“Mmph!” Gadget whined, instinctively.

“No no, leave it, I think I like those squeaks. So you’ll be leaving her here? This hardly seems like a prison room itself.” Fat Cat commented.

“Oh, no, this is self contained.” Tansy said, knocking on the vacuum-frame. She flicked a valve that disconnected the tube, locking the vacuum down. She pointed to a slotted base below the frame, beckoning the rat out of standby and together they tilted the frame and it’s occupant up until it fell into place at a right angle. The transparent side was held toward Fat Cat, showing the inflated suit in all its glory with a dark backdrop. “I thought you could take this to your desk as a trophy during the day and then I can take her back at night.”

“Oh I like that first idea. What would you want her for, yourself?” He asked.

“Let’s call it my reward, as I’m sure you’ll come to understand, there are more fun things to do with rivals than just disposing of them. On which topic… What of the other Rangers?”

“You’re not going to demand they be spared too, are you?” Fat Cat asked, suddenly less amused.

“Oh not at all, they don’t matter to me. I was just wishing to know if I should work on suits for each of the others.”

“Haha, I see. There’s no need, I’ll only need one example and a single trophy of my victory over them.”

“And if you permanently deal with the rest of them, there’s little danger of them foiling your plans or pulling off one last rescue.” Tansy quipped, guiding Fat Cat toward an answer that would let him finally get the leg up he needed… and provide security that Gadget would stay put. “Oh well, I had different accessories planned for each of them but I suppose unless you decide we should glue her into that, I can make adjustments so they’ll all fit our little inventor here.”

With a snap of her fingers she summoned back some henchmen who moved to lift the frame, carrying it awkwardly after Tansy and Fat Cat. “Oh? May one ask for a preview?” He said, mirthfully.

“I was thinking of a compact stress ball, filled with this mouse. One you could squeeze to get your tension out and enjoy your enemy’s squeaking.”

“Oh delightful, if this is how well you build your entertaining toys, I am eager to see the work you put into tools and weapons.”

Gadget’s brows furrowed with concern, her grunts and muffled pleas were totally ignored by the villains surrounding her. She’d been in deadlier scrapes than this before, yet none that seemed so carefully engineered. Besides, if Tansy was as much of a prodigy as Gadget and had been correct about when anyone would notice Gadget’s disappearance, she’d have more than enough time to prepare.