Buzz Lightyear of Star Command © Disney/Pixar
Choi Zarah G'Deneb © Engineer Jess
Mariañ Haydée © Empress Lightyear
Episode 4:
Frozen
"...Once upon a time there was a lush, tropic planet at the edges of Theta Quadrant. It was full of vividness, a Xanadu of jungles and emerald green valleys. A race of peaceful aliens enjoyed their lives in this mystic nature paradise. They were healthy, in harmony with the vegetation and animals. It was told that a key to their long and sorrowless life was a certain herb growing in the forests of the particular planet. It would let one's mind free from depression and dark thoughts, healing one's body by bringing him new force of vivacity. No outsiders were allowed to eat this plant; it was only in the use of the natives. It was not cultivated; it grew wild in the boscages, in symbiosis with a rare mushroom.
The centuries went on. Generations were born, generations died, but overall the planet kept on blooming with its complacent population. However, one day, an unexpected doom from the skies was there to destroy it all. Without any detection, without any forecast a large meteorite crashed down from space and raised a mighty ash cloud above the surface. No sun got in to cheer up the misery of the devastation. Little by little the climate changed. A cold breeze would blow instead of the gentle, warm wind. The mild summer showers turned to blizzards, breathing snow and ice to cover the greenness. Gradually the planet was a cold tomb, surrounded by an eternal ice age. The habitants who had enough technology, moved away, leaving the old home to die. No one could survive long enough in such a place where nothing grew, nothing was lively.
...and so was also destroyed the herb of longevity. Nevertheless, the legends will live on, telling that there is furthermore a secret, forbidden valley on the planet, where still the summer blossoms. There somewhere, under the trees, grows tha-grydda, the well of soundness. But who is there to find it, if it even exists..."
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"That was a sad story. Sounds pretty much the same what happened to Xaneda, only in a bit opposite way..."
"Yeah... and if that veggie would really be juttin' somewhere there, it maybe would bring a certain fella away from darkness..."
Two sighs filled a half-lit room. A cosy and warming fire crackled there in a huge fireplace. At it, on soft pillows, were sitting Warp and Zarah Darkmatter, cuddled up tight to each other. She leaned to his side, searching for a safe place under his thick arm. Giving a glance to her side, he smoothed her hair and took her more into his embrace.
It was a freezing day under the surface of Xaneda. All the households in Xatagah community were heated up to the maximum temperatures. Despite of the ultra-modern heater devices, the Darkmatters had one room for a fireplace -ancient but homey. It was Warp's habit to sit in front of it with his lady and tell her fairy tales, just like now. Although, this time it was a much more severe situation.
The blue alien switched off the little holo-book he had been reading. Silence was the dweller of the chamber; neither of the mates were able to speak about their subject, very soon. While the yellow flames happily danced in front of him, Warp collected his thoughts and rememberized the occurrences from beyond some months.
All was supposed to be well after the sudden destruction of the Zurgean Empire. The major threat of the Galactic Alliance was wiped away like a random dust particle. Currently the solar systems of the fallen reign were going through a re-habitation program. All the remains of the despotism would be destroyed, while the supremacy of the Alliance would bring there a new control.
What had become of Emperor Zurg, was that he was living under a new -or strictly saying an old- identity. His passport told to every public authority the name Zoxedaszeĉ Zora Lightyear. He lodged on Capital Planet, near the hospital where he had been some weeks. The body of him had been badly injured after the particular explosion accident. His right lung had burst, in addition of that he had permanently lost a few of his own ribs. But with biotic implants replacing the handicapped organs, Zurg was able to come along as well as before the fatal day.
Darkmatter recalled that it had been a sheer chaos when the indolent Emperor had been transported to Star Command HQ, after the battle on Planet Z. Commander Nebula was near to lose his mind when he heard all the news, about the identities, resurrected persons and the doom of one dynasty. He could not draw his regard away from the face of Zurg. When the almost dying ex-villain was shifted to the LGM operating room, he had followed him even there, staring in turn at the elder Lightyear and his son. Buzz was then directed to get instant treatment, too, because of being in a forceful shock. It had taken an era for the Commander to accept the truth of the Lightyear family.
...and so bright had the prospects been, when the memorable meeting had been held. Where Zurg had begged for apologies, the Darkmatters timidly discussing about the new freedom, Mira Nova convincing the ex-Emperor that the new hope was there, behind one door...
Maybe Zurg had seen the ray of noveau light, but what was the situation of his son, it was merely the opposite. Now, after such a long time, it was evident, that the dark side had begun to swallow him. After once letting it into him, it had not lightened its hold, but insidiously crept further and further into his thoughts. The depression that had taken over the captain already on Planet Z, had not given in. Buzz had promised to start his work as a ranger, again, but that seemed to be only a castle in Spain, nowadays. The Universe Protection would never accept such a worker, not even as a rookie.
Everyone of the broken-up Team Lightyear exhaled deep when seeing their once so viril and brave captain in this condition. The new Buzz Lightyear was something completely unforeseen. Introvert, stern, inflexible, not willing to spend time or discuss with his usual friends. And worse it went, when the clock hands galloped forwards. He wanted to be alone, closing the windows in front of everyone's noses. Alone, descend more into the darkness. The usual medications had no effect on him, the grimness with the black thoughts stayed. Oh the promises, oh the hopes...
"So... it was that Izzard who brought this concern up..." Warp finally opened his mouth. She gave a worried leer back, putting then her arms tight around his waist.
"Why won't the world just settle down as it should have been? Now I'm afraid of the both Lightyears", she answered fearfully.
Warp stroked her shoulders in addition of his soothing answer. "I guess the state of affairs is a bit different with our Incognito Caesar. He seems to have gone through it pretty well since there indicates to be no maliciousness much left in him, any more. He genuinely regrets his past. So maybe ya should try to accept him the way he is, now, babe."
"I've tried! But I'm so scared of him! Every time I meet those piercing brown eyes of him, what do I remember? The purple chamber, the hideous grin of his helmet mouth, the high current slashing my organs all over... I'm back to that torture chair every time he's present!" she inhaled teary, trying once again to search for an asylum in Warp's arms.
"There, there, Za li'l..." he whispered. "That's gone. You're safe here. No one wants to hurt you. It's been extremely difficult for me to get used to his renewed personality, too, but little by little the fears have mildened."
"I try, Darkie, I try my best, ya know that", she gave a coy sniffle.
"Wonder still why the change was that easy for him. Maybe it was solely because he got the point that he's not the sovereign overbeing of the whole universe, but can die like an ant squashed under a shoe..." Warp pondered, "...and that other experience..."
"You mean the case of Mariañ Haydée?"
"Exactly."
"Well she literally saved his life with that surgery she did. Maybe it's explainable that Zurg got smitten with her, but that's more peculiar that she immediately responded to his feelings..." Zarah kept her regard for a while directed to the shadows that waved in the corners. "Only that I astonish a bit her taste... she and her target of admiration have over 25 years of age difference... I mean, she's younger than me!"
He gave a guffaw, "Yeah and I though that our 5 years were much!"
"At least she's not startled by him. What I lastly heard, was that they're engaged, now."
The male Darkmatter was not to believe his ears, only shook his head in extreme amusement. "Rotten quasars... that's new for me... but I guess we should shift back to the main topic. We're here rumouring about other one's love affairs like some ol' scandalmongers..."
Zarah turned very grave. "Let's face it. What are the odds that some kind of a legend like this would be trustworthy?"
"As much as the fairy tales concerning this li'l nice hide nook, Xaneda", he grinned.
"And it was Zurg who sent you that information disk, what ya were just reading?" she asked.
"As crazy as it sounds. Evil Emperor Zurg willing to find a way to get his bully-boy son to step among the nice people again..." Sudden sadness because of the association darkened his face. "And I thought I an' that Lightwave were chums, again... it seems to me that he has entered pretty deep the wrong tunnels. Not willing to talk to me, any more."
His wife took the little holo-computer into her hands instead and clicked the info disk into it. With a couple of button presses, she had opened a 3D-map of the Theta Quadrant in front of her.
"At least the so-called winter planet exists, if that brings any hope to the reliability of the legends", she noted. "Isgurda, the land of everlasting coldness. The fifth planet of Iskallth System."
"Za, the fake-dead daddy of you-know-who is serious with this stuff. He's gathering an expedition group for to get to that ice inferno. To find that outdoor cucumber... ermh, I mean that tha-grydda or whatever gibberish it was. And... he wants us to take part of that trip."
She raised her gaze to meet his open face. An evident bewilderment reflected from her big, green eyes. With somewhat a shaking voice she began, "G-go to a... an expedition trip w-with... Zurg? I... I don't know..."
"Guess am I very pleased to that idea?" Warp muttered back, "Chat up with that Mr. Phantom Menace... yet, he seems to be convinced that that silly grass is growing somewhere and it would be the right cure for his dear sonny... even says he has some scientific evidence of the existence of it. He has talked Commander Nebula dizzy for to give him equipment and resources to arrange a longer journey to Isgurda."
Choi breathed deep, forehead wrinkled. So, there would be a new adventure ahead, with not-so-pleasing company. However, there seemed to be no exit gate in the horizon to avoid this. It was planned that the Darkmatters would travel to Capital Planet after a couple to days, to find out, what the future would be. Buzz Lightyear's state went worse day by day, dimming gradually the light of those heroic deeds that had once been his crown. Therefore, something had to be done to it, before it would be too late.