Author's notes: I have never seen a single episode of the series BLoSC, so I don't guarantee that all the characters are in character. I still hope you enjoy reading this.
Special thanks for ideas and encouragement to EJ and Captain Buzz Lightyear and Mira Elizabeth.
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command © Disney/Pixar
Han Solo, Millennium Falcon, ect. © Lucasfilm
Thanks also to: Robyn
Absolution
Beautiful, orange-lilac sunset enfolded the homes of Tangea in its brilliant luster. The streets were empty –only one silly old man sat on the steps of a detached-house and followed the silently descending darkness. He closed his eyes and smirked: finally there was peace in the galaxy.
Nearly ninety thousand Tangeans had gathered to celebrate the victory of the Galactic Alliance into King Nova's palace. King Nova had arranged grand festivities for the whole night. Evil Emperor Zurg was finally defeated, and that was really a matter to rejoice!
What's more, not a single Tangean had got hurt in the battle. It had namely been Commander Nebula's great idea to use the Jelly-guns – a weapon that Emperor Zurg had invented himself but abandoned because of it being too mild. Two months ago, Team Lightyear found the guns from a fallen Z-cruiser.
The Jelly-gun was ideal for conquering planet Z, because only one gun could produce over a hundred thousand cubic meters dark-green jelly at a time, consisting of gum, glue, moles, apple-juice and gelatin, and that stuff literally jammed Zurg's whole defense system. When using two hundred such guns, it was no wonder that planet Z was covered with the jelly all over in three hours, and two meters deep at least. The same was done to Warp's moon and the Auto-defense moon, and all the enemies were soon captured inside the shaking and dancing jelly. It had been real fun for Mira and the others to cut Zurg and his henchmen out of it.
But now it was time to relax. Emperor Zurg, as well as Warp Darkmatter and three thousand other evil fellows were now sitting in a prison. After some time, they would go trough a "back-to-good" –program, except Zurg, who was planned to put in sight in the museum, behind a bullet-proof glass and titanium bars.
-- -- --
In King Nova's palace, the celebrating was in full run. Along a stole, deep-blue velvet carpet, which was unfurled in the middle of the forum, were walking five very different-sized figures. They were the main target of thundering applause and cheering. They were Team Lightyear and their leader. Commander Nebula, Buzz Lightyear and Mira Nova led the group and Booster followed with XR near behind.
"We are true heroes now, Buzz!" Mira whispered, and her smile nearly reached her ears.
"I know. This is the day I have always been dreaming of." Buzz smiled back.
King Nova himself was waiting on the other end of the carpet. He looked very solemn in his lime-green toga. He had put an extra effort to mold his whiskers sharp and shiny.
"Daddy!" Mira laughed and ran into his father's arms.
"My precious little daughter! How proud I am of you!" The King was very touched.
"Your majesty King Nova." Buzz and Commander Nebula kneeled in front of the two royalties. Somehow, their voices sounded very respectful and humble, which made XR steal a side-glance at them in wonder. Then also he tried to bow a little, when Buzz jostled him with his foot. As to Booster, he only succeeded to tangle up with his feet and smash down. But luckily nobody cared; he was a hero now, as well as the rest of the Team.
The King began to speak. He declared with the most important and moved voice:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you – the saviors of our galaxy!"
Thundering applause and whistling filled the hall again. Buzz felt very proud. King Nova continued:
"Tonight is the first night we can sleep calmly. Emperor Zurg and his evil apprentices are all locked safely behind strong iron doors. They are in the cellars of Ydna's Castle."
A chill went along Mira's back; she could not think of the place without horror. Ydna was a dark and misty mountain, quite near the palace; and from it's eerie shadows rose the castle –the most terrifying place of the universe, with cold, humid cells, slimy Imukala-worms climbing all over the walls, Shello-rats biting the feet of every prisoner. Mira shivered once more, but then concentrated again to her father's speech.
King Nova now leaned his hand on Buzz' shoulder:
"We are indebted to these five heroes: Buzz Lightyear, Commander Nebula, XR, Booster –and my brave daughter Mira Nova!"
The audience hoorayed again.
"Tonight, the biggest party of the galaxy will be arranged! Everyone is invited in to my castle! The whole Tangea must rejoice with me!"
XR could not help wondering why the King spoke so funnily. Of course the whole Tangea was celebrating. Of course everybody would come to the King's palace –they were already there. And everybody knew their names already, so why to repeat them?
However, the audience could not have wished better words from their King; the applause and the cries of joy echoed everywhere. Commander Nebula was nearly moved to tears. King Nova continued energetically, to make his own voice hear again:
"And as to our heroes: they may choose their reward themselves. I will do everything to make their wishes come true."
Buzz could not help a shining smile spreading all over his face. At first he thought of building a summer house on some of the three beautiful planets in the Möhköfantti System. But then his eyes got a new kind of gleam: he would ask the best researchers to find out what ever happened to his father thirty years ago. And this time King Nova could not prevent that with any idiotic excuse; he had just promised in front of almost hundred thousand people that he would make Buzz' any wish come true.
Mira laughed out loud when hearing his father's words. She could not help jumping joyfully in the air. She knew exactly what she wanted: the newest model of the Space Speeder 5001, the red one, with white leather seats and a shower in the cargo room.
XR seemed to be rather calm –after all, as a robot, he did not know how to cry for happiness. Instead, he mumbled silently by himself: "At least I will ask for a robot woman. Surely I will. I find these flesh-and-blood –chicks rather hard to please most of the time!"
Booster had no bigger wishes than a good lunch; some might think him a very modest man. But when his favorite meal consisted of fifty hundred sneak tongues, flamed Otsapahka-frog's legs, a bucket of whipped cream and Siimahäntä fillet-beef, it was after all by no means easy to provide. Especially when Booster needed a triple portion.
-- -- --
The cellars of Ydna's Castle truly were dark, humid and dirty. Warp and Emperor Zurg shared the same small cell, which was of course heavily guarded. They had one, half-burnt candle as a light, when no sunlight ever reached the place, and they had to sit on wet straw. Two rat-alike creatures –most likely poisonous Shello's –fought in the corner. Warp scared them away with a snap of his right-arm scythes. He looked very somber.
"What is this, Emperor? I thought Planet Z was impossible to conquer!"
"So did I. But I never imagined that the Galactic Alliance would find the Jelly-weapons –and be clever enough to use them against me! It angers me to know that they defeated me with my own invention. Those stupid Tangeans! Those plagiarists!" Zurg was enormously vexed.
"Did you see what happened to my moon?"
"No, but I suppose they did the same there than what they did at Z. You know, it eats a man to see the empire in such condition –every place four feet deep in green, sticky jelly! I wonder if my beautiful Z-tower can ever be properly cleaned up!"
"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. This homely cell will be your empire from now on."
Zurg did not say a word –for the first time in many, many years he was at a loss what to do.
They sat still for a long time. The candle cast shadows all around the little room, and the atmosphere was somehow unreal. The little candle-flame reflected from Warp's glinting eyes and made him look very sad. Zurg had his helmet still on. He had pressed his head down and breathed heavily.
"At least they didn't get my riches… I am still a rich man –that is, if I ever get out of here."
"What do you mean rich?" Warp glanced at him carefully, "I thought they confiscated all the fortune you had."
"Wrong! They did not know –and still don't – that I have thousands of billions of uni-bucks hidden in safe places on dozens of moons and planets. Nobody but me knows where they can be found."
Warp gave a respectful "gee".
They both imagined in their mind what they could do with that money if they only got out of the jail.
After two silent minutes, Zurg abruptly stood up and whispered keenly:
"Darkmatter?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you hear that laughter?"
Warp listened. Zurg was right,
something unusual was happening outside.
"What is that shindy?"
"The Tangeans must be celebrating their victory. It sounds like fireworks!"
"At Ydna? The guards must have gone crazy!"
The two men looked at each other. Yes, the moment was now or never.
Warp trotted behind the iron door and yelled for the guard. No answer. He banged the door –but no-one came to ask what was the matter.
"It seems that the guards have gone somewhere!"
"Fast, come here! I managed to slip a new-ground crystal in the little secret pocket of my uniform. Let's fit it up into your arm!"
Warp stretched out his right arm to Zurg who dug out the little piece of crystal.
"Whee! Don't break it!"
"But how do we open the chamber? I have no proper tools!"
"Darn! But hey, there is a water-pot in the corner! I think it is made of aluminium! Maybe you could…"
"Give me five seconds!"
The Emperor went to get the pot. He eyed it for a moment and then crunched it between his fists. After a while, he had twisted it into a flat, strong, chisel-like tool.
"Bring your arm closer."
Zurg installed the crystal in three minutes.
"Now, if your weapon works again –shoot that door open! It is not unbreakable, I think."
Warp turned his arm to a little missile launcher and targeted his shoot towards the hinges. A thundering explosion took place. Trough the thick smoke, the freedom could finally be seen.
"Come fast!"
"This was not a long visit, I see!"
"Stop blabbering, Warp, and come already!"
They managed to slip away from the castle easily. The explosion had taken place just when King Nova self had launched a big rocket, and therefore nobody had paid attention to it. Zurg saw a little, shadowy lane in the left, and headed there. At the end of it, were stairs that seemed to lead to the upper floors of the castle.
"I think the launch deck is somewhere there, Zurg. What is your plan? I think it is full of guards."
"Leave it to me… Look, Darkmatter, there is the Millennium Falcon! Hope the hyper-drive is in function…"
"What?"
"Never mind, just…follow me. We are going to borrow that vehicle for a while. Now… jump in, quick!"
And so did the two evil partners leave Tangea. They did not see the terrified expression of a man who had just stepped out of the Falcon, in order to see the fireworks.
Zurg decided to head towards the Angel System. There was a particular forest moon which he remembered to be quite perfect place to hide: Naboor.
---
Mira Nova was combing her hair in front of a mirror. She seemed to have sunk in her own blue eyes and hummed a sweet melody. She did not see or hear anything. She was in love.
"Han… you make my heart light as a feather… make my eyes go wider… make me smile…" she sang.
XR and Booster just happened to walk by her door and hear this.
"Gee…", XR whispered, "I hope Mr. Solo is not here to hear that. He would laugh his lungs out."
Booster grinned. They continued their way and soon disappeared behind a corner. Mira rose up and walked to her wardrobe.
"And what should I put on tonight? Indeed, a party… where also he is coming… I want him to see me at my best. Oh, there is my pink evening dress!", Mira spoke aloud, "This will just charm him!"
She danced about the floor, the dress in her arms, and giggled. She was completely in love. When she had got it on, she went to search for a pair of shoes.
"Tral-la-laa… these lilac sandals with five-inch heels will just perfectly enhance my figure! And where are my jewels… there, my beautiful earrings and bracelets. And this silver necklace gives me an air of a sophisticated lady!"
Just when she had finished her outfit and was evaluating herself via a mirror, somebody knocked at the door. Mira thought it would be Han Solo and nearly jumped in the arms of Booster.
"Good gracious, Mira! What are you…? Never mind, I know already. But I must beg you to follow me now, quickly! Pack your knapsack, only the essential stuff."
"What is the matter?"
"No time to explain. Just pack and come! No, not that brush! Hurry!"
Mira was on her way to the starship hall before she even knew. She tried to keep up with Booster and was afraid to break her ankles when half running with her high heels.
"What is all this, Booster? I thought we were going to have a party…!"
"Your father the King just announced that Emperor Zurg and Warp Darkmatter have escaped."
"What?!"
"And we are now sent to find and imprison them again."
Booster nearly threw Mira into their starship and closed the door behind.
"Go, Buzz, go!"
"Oh, this is so annoying! I wanted to have some fun tonight, not to go for a joy-ride with you guys!" Mira looked like a stubborn bull, ready to fight –but was more close to cry.
Buzz did not say a thing. He was actually quite amused of the fact that Mira was at their haunting trip with only high-heeled sandals and evening-dress on.