Disclaimer: I don't own Buzz Lightyear or anyone associated with him. I
think they belong to Disney and Pixar… am I right? Anyway, they don't
belong to me, and the only thing I'm gaining from writing this is my own
amusement. Don't sue me please.
A/N: I must warn you now that, if you didn't realize it before, this story contains MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH. This means that one of the main characters (someone you see in pretty much every episode) is going to die. Turn back if this bothers you; I won't be offended. If you do choose to continue, just remember that you have been warned.
I'm changing it to two chapters now, just because I thought it was really long as one.
Thank you very much to those who reviewed. I really appreciate the feedback. Yes I know I have grammar problems; I am currently without a beta and have to do all the editing by myself. So just bear with me here. I am taking all of your suggestions into consideration and hope you enjoy the story!
Please Note: ** Words like this are a flashback of some kind.** and / Words like this show something being said in the back ground / *One asterisk just means the words are supposed to be in italics for some other reason, but SuperKat has no clue how to make them that way. *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Part I
"Mr. Orrium! Mr. Orrium! Sir, you might want to see this!"
The aging miner pushed his dark bangs off his green forehead and pinned them back with his black cap. He sighed as he drew his attention to the younger man standing in the doorway of his office. The boy, one of the newer recruits on the colony, shifted his weight from foot to foot as he watched his superior carefully. There was something of awe and wonder in the boy's eyes, accompanied by a trace of fear Mr. Orrium knew no man on this mining colony would care to admit.
"Yes, what is it, Caspate?"
The youth brushed his jet-black hair back with a nervous hand. "The workers uncovered something strange. Like a huge green rock, only it's warm and… well, you might want to take a look at it yourself."
"Okay then," replied the older man. "Lead the way."
Mr. Orrium's mouth dropped open in shock. For a moment he was unable to say anything.
"Thank you for coming to get me, Caspate," he managed to rasp.
The young miner nodded, "Sure."
Most of the activity in this particular cavern had either ceased or slowed to a crawl. In the center of the room something like the top of a giant, yellow-green orb peeked up through the solid rock floor. Its presence seemed to warm the room; a faint but very high-pitched hum emitted from it's center. Something about its very existence seemed to present levels of energy unknown to most locals; Mr. Orrium had the feeling something with this much hidden power was enough to alert the Galactic Alliance.
"Every worker in this area, evacuate to the admissions office immediately," he said into a hand-held broadcasting device, "I want this room empty and quarantined in ten minutes. Caspate," he said to the young miner. "Contact the Galactic Alliance and tell them I will be on the line to speak with them in a moment."
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Orrium took one more long look at the strange orb looking so out- of-place in such an out-of-the-way mining colony like this one. This could not be good.
Somewhere just out of range of the planet's atmosphere, a dark ship loomed, hidden from detection. Its pilot studied the scanners and the strange readings they picked up from the planet directly below him. Warp Darkmatter smiled to himself.
This was good.
This was very good.
* * *
Team Lightyear stood at attention, watching their commander pace back and forth across the science bay. Behind him, the LGM's were working tirelessly, tapping away at their computers and analyzing the image of what looked to be some sort of strange rock on the screens.
"Earlier this afternoon," Commander Nebula began, "We received an urgent transmission from the new mining colony on the moon off one of the outer planets in the Rhyzomian system. They seem to have uncovered some sort of strange stone that emits… certain types of energy…" The older man fingered his white mustache as he faltered.
"Supersonic energy waves," said one of the LGM's from behind him. Commander Nebula nodded.
"Right. So apparently these… supersonic waves can create a whole lot of whoo-hah if they're abused, and we need to figure out what to do with this thing before Zurg and his empire gets a hold of it."
"And what," began XR, blatantly breaking formation, "Do you propose we DO about that, Dad? Blow up the moon and tell people to move out of the way-"
"XR," Buzz interrupted sharply, "We are Space Rangers. It is not in our nature to 'blow up'-"
"Actually," Commander Nebula cut him off, "That glorified tin can's almost got it right this time. The only way to safely dispose of the stone it to make sure it is destroyed before it is fully uncovered. We don't need to destroy the entire planet, just that one particular mining base."
"But, if the stone explodes," said Mira uncertainly, "Won't that send supersonic waves across the galaxy and cause damage to every activated ship or machine?"
"That," said XR loudly, "Is a very good point. This 'glorified can opener' does not want to be in the way if that stone's going to go off. I for one suggest-"
"Any energy waves produced from the explosion will not be enough to cause damage if it is covered enough by the surrounding stone," replied Commander Nebula. "The miners have not uncovered enough of it yet for any damage to be done, and as of right now the cavern the stone is in is being evacuated and quarantined. Your job is to find the base and destroy it before Zurg and company get wind of what's going on."
"Here," said a lone LGM, approaching them with a metal gray case, "Use these."
Buzz took the case and carefully removed the cover.
"Oooooh," said Booster, peeking over his commanding officer's shoulder, "What is it, Buzz? Can I see it?"
Twenty or so black balls about the size of regular tennis balls lay inside, arranged in three neat rows. Each had a small silver button on top and a matching line that seemed to divide the surface in half.
"Remote-control Mini Francium Bombs," said the LGM.
"You and your team are to set them up around the perimeter of the cavern," Commander Nebula explained to Buzz, "Make sure the area has been completely evacuated before you detonate them. There is a nearby canyon you can take refuge in; the radio waves of the remote shouldn't have any problems reaching the Francium Bombs from there."
Buzz nodded. "Okay, team. Let's move out."
* * *
Warp smiled and extended his arm out to examine his latest acquirement. He had to hand it to Zurg's brain-pods; they'd actually done something useful this time. "Like to see Lightyear and his rookies deal with this one," he said with a smile.
Zurg laughed menacingly, "I'd like to see all of Star Command after we've unleashed the power of the Rhyzomian stone. Of course, seeing Lightyear writhing in pain on the ground after a strike from your new blade would be nice too… but that's best-case scenario. We don't want to set our sights too high, do we?"
Darkmatter rolled his eyes and decided not to comment. The evil emperor was known for setting his ambitions to the heavens, part of the reason he very rarely got anything actually accomplished. This time, however… Star Command had recently been alerted to the existence of the stone, and he'd have Lightyear right where he wanted him.
Good couldn't possibly come out completely on top this time.
* * *
42 set down at the very base of the canyon Commander Nebula had spoken about. Team Lightyear took a moment to look around before they jet packed out into the open air. To either side of them in the canyon, dark brown and mahogany colored rocks rose up in pointed sort of pillars to the cloudless, sea green sky. The bottom of the canyon was fairly flat; not far away a rusty passenger ship stood on the stone ground. Miners of all ages stuck their heads out the door to have a peek at the famous Team Lightyear. Most of them waved; some clapped and a few of them shouted their greetings. Buzz saluted as he and his team members took off.
The ground above was jagged and very uneven. Boulders of all shapes and sizes jutted upward at all angles; walking across such a landscape would have been a very difficult task.
"Gee," said Booster timidly as they approached the mining base, "Are you sure we can all fit in there, Buzz?"
He was referring to the fact that the only visible sign of the base was a tiny silver hut positioned at the very bottom of one of the deeper crevices. It seemed hardly big enough to squeeze Booster alone inside, more or less an entire group of mineworkers.
"Is this a bad time to mention I'm claustrophobic?" asked XR.
"That's just the entrance," Mira explained, "The mine itself is below the surface."
Team Lightyear descended down the elevator inside the shack into a vast cavern completely surrounded by black stone. Various electric lanterns hung off the walls and provided feeble light. The mine carts and the tracks leading into many sporadically placed tunnels suggested that the mine was usually a flurry of work, but as of now it was completely still. The only person to greet them was an older man with wrinkled green skin and a blue miner's uniform. His dark hair was graying at the sides and pinned out of his face with a black felt cap.
"The name's Orrium," he said as he shook Buzz's hand. "Can't tell you how honored I am to meet you all face-to-face. The finest space rangers in the galaxy! It's a pleasure, fellas ~ princess," he nodded to each of the four rangers in turn, "A real pleasure. Here. Let me show you the way."
The five of them squeezed into a deserted mine cart and rode through a short tunnel into another cavern slightly smaller than the first. The green glow of the gem in the center reflected off of all of their faces; they took a moment as they stepped out of the cart to admire its striking beauty.
"Okay, team," said Buzz, breaking the silence, "You know what to do. Let's get to work."
He gently set the black case on the floor and opened it. As Booster, Mira and XR each took a mini-bomb and scattered, he lifted one out of the case and showed Mr. Orrium how it was activated. Buzz pressed the silver button on top; the ball split along the silver line and opened like a mechanical eggshell in his hand. Streams of red lights spiraled to the center in either half, after a moment they lit and began to emit a quiet beeping noise.
"So you're just going to blow the whole mine to pieces?" Mr. Orrium had not moved from beside the cart. He gazed around the room with a pensive expression on his face.
"A necessary precaution," replied Buzz, "Don't want the stone to fall into the wrong hands. Who knows what diabolical scheme Zurg could cook up using its power?"
Mr. Orrium sighed. "I understand. It's just that mining's been my life, and to just destroy a place like this ~ well, it's kind of like losing a friend. I know it sounds crazy, but-"
"Not at all," said Buzz, "It's the sense of duty that brings one closer to the work they love ~ I've felt the same way about my own ship at times. Sometimes these sacrifices have to be made. You're a good man, Mr. Orrium. You're protecting your entire galaxy by doing this."
The old miner nodded, but his reply was cut off by a blast from somewhere above their heads that shook the entire cave. Another. And another. Tiny pieces of rock came loose from the walls and began to tumble to the floor.
"Good lord!" Mr. Orrium cried, "It's a moonquake!"
"There aren't any moonquakes around here," said Buzz, "We're being attacked! Rangers, report! Mira," he tossed the black remote to the Tangean princess, "You and XR protect Mr. Orrium and finish the work in here. Booster, you're with me." He and the Jo-Adian ranger exited through the tunnel at a run.
"Don't they *realize * how much harder they're just making things?" said XR as he watched the trembling ceiling.
Mira decided not to reply. She removed another black ball from the case and looked around for a spot to place it.
"Excuse me," said Mr. Orrium, "Is there any way I could help?"
Mira looked up and considered him for a second.
"Do you know how to activate a Francium bomb?" she asked the aging miner.
"If it's as easy as it looks, I do," he replied.
She smiled and nodded, "Then sure. They need to be placed evenly around the perimeter so the explosion completely destroys the stone."
He nodded, "Sure thing."
END OF PART I (Please review!)
A/N: I must warn you now that, if you didn't realize it before, this story contains MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH. This means that one of the main characters (someone you see in pretty much every episode) is going to die. Turn back if this bothers you; I won't be offended. If you do choose to continue, just remember that you have been warned.
I'm changing it to two chapters now, just because I thought it was really long as one.
Thank you very much to those who reviewed. I really appreciate the feedback. Yes I know I have grammar problems; I am currently without a beta and have to do all the editing by myself. So just bear with me here. I am taking all of your suggestions into consideration and hope you enjoy the story!
Please Note: ** Words like this are a flashback of some kind.** and / Words like this show something being said in the back ground / *One asterisk just means the words are supposed to be in italics for some other reason, but SuperKat has no clue how to make them that way. *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Part I
"Mr. Orrium! Mr. Orrium! Sir, you might want to see this!"
The aging miner pushed his dark bangs off his green forehead and pinned them back with his black cap. He sighed as he drew his attention to the younger man standing in the doorway of his office. The boy, one of the newer recruits on the colony, shifted his weight from foot to foot as he watched his superior carefully. There was something of awe and wonder in the boy's eyes, accompanied by a trace of fear Mr. Orrium knew no man on this mining colony would care to admit.
"Yes, what is it, Caspate?"
The youth brushed his jet-black hair back with a nervous hand. "The workers uncovered something strange. Like a huge green rock, only it's warm and… well, you might want to take a look at it yourself."
"Okay then," replied the older man. "Lead the way."
Mr. Orrium's mouth dropped open in shock. For a moment he was unable to say anything.
"Thank you for coming to get me, Caspate," he managed to rasp.
The young miner nodded, "Sure."
Most of the activity in this particular cavern had either ceased or slowed to a crawl. In the center of the room something like the top of a giant, yellow-green orb peeked up through the solid rock floor. Its presence seemed to warm the room; a faint but very high-pitched hum emitted from it's center. Something about its very existence seemed to present levels of energy unknown to most locals; Mr. Orrium had the feeling something with this much hidden power was enough to alert the Galactic Alliance.
"Every worker in this area, evacuate to the admissions office immediately," he said into a hand-held broadcasting device, "I want this room empty and quarantined in ten minutes. Caspate," he said to the young miner. "Contact the Galactic Alliance and tell them I will be on the line to speak with them in a moment."
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Orrium took one more long look at the strange orb looking so out- of-place in such an out-of-the-way mining colony like this one. This could not be good.
Somewhere just out of range of the planet's atmosphere, a dark ship loomed, hidden from detection. Its pilot studied the scanners and the strange readings they picked up from the planet directly below him. Warp Darkmatter smiled to himself.
This was good.
This was very good.
* * *
Team Lightyear stood at attention, watching their commander pace back and forth across the science bay. Behind him, the LGM's were working tirelessly, tapping away at their computers and analyzing the image of what looked to be some sort of strange rock on the screens.
"Earlier this afternoon," Commander Nebula began, "We received an urgent transmission from the new mining colony on the moon off one of the outer planets in the Rhyzomian system. They seem to have uncovered some sort of strange stone that emits… certain types of energy…" The older man fingered his white mustache as he faltered.
"Supersonic energy waves," said one of the LGM's from behind him. Commander Nebula nodded.
"Right. So apparently these… supersonic waves can create a whole lot of whoo-hah if they're abused, and we need to figure out what to do with this thing before Zurg and his empire gets a hold of it."
"And what," began XR, blatantly breaking formation, "Do you propose we DO about that, Dad? Blow up the moon and tell people to move out of the way-"
"XR," Buzz interrupted sharply, "We are Space Rangers. It is not in our nature to 'blow up'-"
"Actually," Commander Nebula cut him off, "That glorified tin can's almost got it right this time. The only way to safely dispose of the stone it to make sure it is destroyed before it is fully uncovered. We don't need to destroy the entire planet, just that one particular mining base."
"But, if the stone explodes," said Mira uncertainly, "Won't that send supersonic waves across the galaxy and cause damage to every activated ship or machine?"
"That," said XR loudly, "Is a very good point. This 'glorified can opener' does not want to be in the way if that stone's going to go off. I for one suggest-"
"Any energy waves produced from the explosion will not be enough to cause damage if it is covered enough by the surrounding stone," replied Commander Nebula. "The miners have not uncovered enough of it yet for any damage to be done, and as of right now the cavern the stone is in is being evacuated and quarantined. Your job is to find the base and destroy it before Zurg and company get wind of what's going on."
"Here," said a lone LGM, approaching them with a metal gray case, "Use these."
Buzz took the case and carefully removed the cover.
"Oooooh," said Booster, peeking over his commanding officer's shoulder, "What is it, Buzz? Can I see it?"
Twenty or so black balls about the size of regular tennis balls lay inside, arranged in three neat rows. Each had a small silver button on top and a matching line that seemed to divide the surface in half.
"Remote-control Mini Francium Bombs," said the LGM.
"You and your team are to set them up around the perimeter of the cavern," Commander Nebula explained to Buzz, "Make sure the area has been completely evacuated before you detonate them. There is a nearby canyon you can take refuge in; the radio waves of the remote shouldn't have any problems reaching the Francium Bombs from there."
Buzz nodded. "Okay, team. Let's move out."
* * *
Warp smiled and extended his arm out to examine his latest acquirement. He had to hand it to Zurg's brain-pods; they'd actually done something useful this time. "Like to see Lightyear and his rookies deal with this one," he said with a smile.
Zurg laughed menacingly, "I'd like to see all of Star Command after we've unleashed the power of the Rhyzomian stone. Of course, seeing Lightyear writhing in pain on the ground after a strike from your new blade would be nice too… but that's best-case scenario. We don't want to set our sights too high, do we?"
Darkmatter rolled his eyes and decided not to comment. The evil emperor was known for setting his ambitions to the heavens, part of the reason he very rarely got anything actually accomplished. This time, however… Star Command had recently been alerted to the existence of the stone, and he'd have Lightyear right where he wanted him.
Good couldn't possibly come out completely on top this time.
* * *
42 set down at the very base of the canyon Commander Nebula had spoken about. Team Lightyear took a moment to look around before they jet packed out into the open air. To either side of them in the canyon, dark brown and mahogany colored rocks rose up in pointed sort of pillars to the cloudless, sea green sky. The bottom of the canyon was fairly flat; not far away a rusty passenger ship stood on the stone ground. Miners of all ages stuck their heads out the door to have a peek at the famous Team Lightyear. Most of them waved; some clapped and a few of them shouted their greetings. Buzz saluted as he and his team members took off.
The ground above was jagged and very uneven. Boulders of all shapes and sizes jutted upward at all angles; walking across such a landscape would have been a very difficult task.
"Gee," said Booster timidly as they approached the mining base, "Are you sure we can all fit in there, Buzz?"
He was referring to the fact that the only visible sign of the base was a tiny silver hut positioned at the very bottom of one of the deeper crevices. It seemed hardly big enough to squeeze Booster alone inside, more or less an entire group of mineworkers.
"Is this a bad time to mention I'm claustrophobic?" asked XR.
"That's just the entrance," Mira explained, "The mine itself is below the surface."
Team Lightyear descended down the elevator inside the shack into a vast cavern completely surrounded by black stone. Various electric lanterns hung off the walls and provided feeble light. The mine carts and the tracks leading into many sporadically placed tunnels suggested that the mine was usually a flurry of work, but as of now it was completely still. The only person to greet them was an older man with wrinkled green skin and a blue miner's uniform. His dark hair was graying at the sides and pinned out of his face with a black felt cap.
"The name's Orrium," he said as he shook Buzz's hand. "Can't tell you how honored I am to meet you all face-to-face. The finest space rangers in the galaxy! It's a pleasure, fellas ~ princess," he nodded to each of the four rangers in turn, "A real pleasure. Here. Let me show you the way."
The five of them squeezed into a deserted mine cart and rode through a short tunnel into another cavern slightly smaller than the first. The green glow of the gem in the center reflected off of all of their faces; they took a moment as they stepped out of the cart to admire its striking beauty.
"Okay, team," said Buzz, breaking the silence, "You know what to do. Let's get to work."
He gently set the black case on the floor and opened it. As Booster, Mira and XR each took a mini-bomb and scattered, he lifted one out of the case and showed Mr. Orrium how it was activated. Buzz pressed the silver button on top; the ball split along the silver line and opened like a mechanical eggshell in his hand. Streams of red lights spiraled to the center in either half, after a moment they lit and began to emit a quiet beeping noise.
"So you're just going to blow the whole mine to pieces?" Mr. Orrium had not moved from beside the cart. He gazed around the room with a pensive expression on his face.
"A necessary precaution," replied Buzz, "Don't want the stone to fall into the wrong hands. Who knows what diabolical scheme Zurg could cook up using its power?"
Mr. Orrium sighed. "I understand. It's just that mining's been my life, and to just destroy a place like this ~ well, it's kind of like losing a friend. I know it sounds crazy, but-"
"Not at all," said Buzz, "It's the sense of duty that brings one closer to the work they love ~ I've felt the same way about my own ship at times. Sometimes these sacrifices have to be made. You're a good man, Mr. Orrium. You're protecting your entire galaxy by doing this."
The old miner nodded, but his reply was cut off by a blast from somewhere above their heads that shook the entire cave. Another. And another. Tiny pieces of rock came loose from the walls and began to tumble to the floor.
"Good lord!" Mr. Orrium cried, "It's a moonquake!"
"There aren't any moonquakes around here," said Buzz, "We're being attacked! Rangers, report! Mira," he tossed the black remote to the Tangean princess, "You and XR protect Mr. Orrium and finish the work in here. Booster, you're with me." He and the Jo-Adian ranger exited through the tunnel at a run.
"Don't they *realize * how much harder they're just making things?" said XR as he watched the trembling ceiling.
Mira decided not to reply. She removed another black ball from the case and looked around for a spot to place it.
"Excuse me," said Mr. Orrium, "Is there any way I could help?"
Mira looked up and considered him for a second.
"Do you know how to activate a Francium bomb?" she asked the aging miner.
"If it's as easy as it looks, I do," he replied.
She smiled and nodded, "Then sure. They need to be placed evenly around the perimeter so the explosion completely destroys the stone."
He nodded, "Sure thing."
END OF PART I (Please review!)