Buzz Lightyear Mission Log. Begin recording.

As we prepare to make the jump into hyperspace, it becomes apparent to me that if we don't succeed, there will not be a second chance. We can't afford failure; but it seems that the only thing standing between us and death is an infinite number of variables, hundreds of calculations and, as XR put it, a hell of a lot of luck.

If we don't make it back, this entry won't even matter. In fact, it won't even be matter. I don't know why I'm even making it then; It's probably the last bits of hope trying to make it back to my brain.

See you on the other side.

End recording.

Chapter I

Sparkles

There is little in this universe that can match that one moment between realities. That one moment when you're not sure if what you're seeing in front of you is real or merely perceived. The moment when you first wake up, and for that one, brief instant, your dream follows you.

Mira murmured in her waking moments as she rolled over. The sheets lay tangled about her as she opened her eyes, smiling contentedly as she looked towards her star-filled window. The edge of Earth lay in the corner of her view, blue and gleaming. She stretched, letting her thoughts linger only on the sensations of the sheets on her skin and how wonderful it felt to get that darn kink out of her spine at last.

Sighing, she breathed out slowly as she let her mind wander. Reaching out, she took her pillow from beneath her head and hugged it close, holding it as she would a lover. She kissed it, tossing it aside soon afterward as the waking world finally settled into her brain.

She showered and dressed, taking the box Booster gave her yesterday from her nightstand and placing it on the table alongside her reports. Opening the box, she took a cookie and began to eat it, chewing slowly as she sealed up her jumpsuit with her other hand. Satisfied that she was decent and that the praline had been consumed, she went to work.

Sitting, she picked up the first report that came to hand and began to scroll, reading up to where she'd left off the previous night. A brief tug caught at her lips as she recalled what had interrupted her.

She shook her head, bringing herself to the present. 'Focus.' She said and continued the report, taking another cookie from the box. For several moments the room was silent, save her slow disassembly of the cookie and the low hum that constantly emanated from deep within Star Command.

'Begin recording.' She said and straightened up, switching over to her official tone. 'In accordance with regulation three one four niner, in that all Space Rangers must never investigate class three astrophenomenon without prior authorization from Star Command, I then contacted Captain Lightyear, informing him of the phenomenon and requesting permission to return to the ship. I was ordered to stay there while the cruiser was brought over to-'

'Lighyear to Nova,' sounded the comm system.

Mira stopped, putting down the report. 'Yes, Buzz?'

'There's an unscheduled launch due to take place at 1100 hours. The cruiser will not have left Star Command, and it won't be on any mission. If detected, she will be simply mapping a previously uncharted sector of the galaxy, and no one knows about it. Do you understand?'

Mira grinned as she took in Buzz's attempt at humor. 'The mission got moved up?'

'The LGMs took a lot less time than expected to finish the modifications. We'll be good to go in two hours, and Commander Nebula wants us launched ASAP.'

'Understood,' said Mira. 'See you at eleven.'

She could almost hear him nodding. 'Lightyear out.'

The transmission closed, and Mira sighed to herself. Pierce only got back at ten thirty, so there was time to finish her reports and have breakfast at the cafeteria. It was pudding day, she noted as she picked up the report once more, deciding this time to just type out the rest of it. She couldn't think while she talked, and she wanted to think.

Her thoughts drifted away from the dry wordings of the paperwork in her hand as she let herself go. A smile played over her face as a comfortable warm feeling rose from within. Her eyes saw not words but blackness as she closed them, letting the remembered sensations of the night before closed over her brain in a mist.

A sigh came from within her as she smiled once more.

'Forget the cafeteria,' she decided, reaching for another cookie.

Star Command was created with a purpose. To fulfill a dream and unite a galaxy under one government; the Galactic Alliance. Star Command was to carry out that purpose and ensure the security of every last person under the Alliance; peace and safety for all.

Star Command headquarters was created with a purpose as well, only a very different one. The sheer number of identical corridors and countless turns made it close to impossible to navigate without either a directional droid or an acute sense of location. Zurg himself had evaded this problem by crashing a suicide ship halfway through the station, then stepping directly onto the command deck. If he had tried some sort of covert invasion through the docking bays, his army would have been lost in the supply rings and his forces scattered wayward and hither throughout this maze masquerading as a space station.

Mira had been a ranger long enough to know where the important things were. Command deck, launch tubes, simulators. An LGM waddled by her as she waved good morning to it. Taking a turn and passing a series of doors, Mira smiled as she remembered the comment XR had made about the very department she was standing in.

'How many accountants does it take to change a lighting fixture?' She whispered as she permitted herself a short laugh.

Something pulled at the corner of her mind. The door she'd walked through earlier should have hissed shut by now, but it had not. Someone was behind her.

'Mira?' His voice called. She stopped, smiling once more as she turned around.

'Hey.' She said as Pierce stopped in front of her. 'You're back early.'

'It was just an asteroid formation,' he defended himself. 'Or did you already forget that?'

'I wouldn't forget the reason you abandoned me last night.' She said, still smiling at him.

'Well,' he said, scratching the side of his head for a moment. 'It's not as if you noticed.'

'I did too notice.' She said, giving him a mock glare.

'Oh God.' He said, his eyes widening slightly. 'I didn't wake you, did I?'

'No.' She said, beaming. 'You didn't.'

'Good.' He nodded, sighing as he reached into his pocket. 'I heard you were going on this mission-'

'This,' she said. 'Secret mission, remember?'

'Ah yes.' He replied, taking his hand out of his suit. 'And speaking of secrets...' He raised his hand, uncurling his fingers to reveal a small diamondine, sparkling softly in the light.

Mira gasped.

'This is for you.' He said, undoing the clasp on the chain. Still rather stunned, Mira allowed him to put the necklace around her, the soft smell of him nearly overwhelming her. When he finished, he stepped back, smiling affectionately. She took the diamondine in her hands, looking at its hundreds of individual facets in wonder as she ran a mental count of how much such a flawless gem could have cost. 'I'm glad you like it.' He said, his eyes smiling.

'It's beautiful.' She gushed, hugging him as she finished the sentence. 'I love it.'

He put his arms around her, encircling her body. 'And I love you.' His hand raised to hold her neck as he kissed her slowly. 'Now. Mission?'

'I'll see you when I get back,' she said as she pulled him close for another kiss. 'See you.'

'Bye.' He said, watching her walk through the door into the launch bay. 'I love you.' He called out as she turned to see his smiling face eclipsed by the closing doors.

Mira sighed. All was well.

'Launch will commence in three minutes.' An LGM said over the comm system. 'All non-authorized personnel, get lost.'

There was a unanimous chuckle as every single LGM on the station laughed at their little joke. The cruiser sat on the pad, Booster and XR having one of their pre-flight arguments as they walked toward the entrance hatch.

'I'm telling you, it's not what it seems.' XR said. 'Tersovska racked up a whole line of moves in his head before hand, and Olsof didn't stand a chance.'

'Nuh uh.' Booster disagreed. 'Those sneaky Tangean players always use their tele-pathetic abilities to predict their opponents!'

'Tele-pathetic, Booster?' XR sighed. 'If you're going to insult my cash cow, at least get the grammar right.'

'I want my twenty credits back right now!' Booster said, almost stamping his foot. 'Tersovska cheated!'

'Hey, I happen to be Tangean, okay?' Mira said, walking between the both of them. 'Tersovska does not cheat.'

'But Olsof was Grand Champion in the Sub-Galactic Division!' Booster protested. 'And Tersovska didn't even make his planetary finals.'

'Take it from me Booster; there are a lot of Tangean Chutmar players who are way better than Tersovska.' Mira said, walking into the gaping hatch and stepping into the significantly narrower corridors of the Star Cruiser. 'He just happened to be better than Olsof.'

'But-' Booster said, preparing his next argument. 'But Olsof used an adder's pincer maneuver in the ninety-eighth move! It was brilliant! There was no way anyone could have countered that tactic!'

'Yes, it was brilliant,' interjected XR. 'But Tersovska saw it coming, and he'd already positioned his pieces to break through the left flank of the pincer.' He turned to Mira. 'Thus causing...'

'Final mate.' They said together as Mira high-fived the robot with an 'Ow!' as she continued to walk in her triumph.

XR whistled suddenly. 'Hey Mira, where'd you pick up the ice?'

Mira's brow furrowed in confusion 'Ice?'

'That diamondine hanging around your neck.' He repeated, leaning over a bit. 'It must be at least a thirty carat.'

'A diamondine? Where?' Booster said, pulling Mira's shoulder in excitement as he craned to get a look at the necklace. 'Wow...' He said. 'A real diamondine!'

'Where'd you get it?' XR repeated.

Mira fingered the gem slowly, smiling at the thought of him. 'Pierce gave it to me.'

'He gave you a diamondine?' Booster said. 'That's so sweet of him!'

'Yeah, well.' XR shrugged. 'Who'd he rob?'

'XR!' Mira was shocked. 'How could you say that?'

'Hey, I know people on Ferulia, Ferulia, mind you, the second richest planet in the Alliance, who can't afford a thirty carat diamondine!' He said. 'That must be eighteen months pay, at least!' XR observed, looking closely at the cut of the jewel. 'It's a real beauty, I'm telling you now. It's not even a fused diamondine; it was cut from one solid piece.'

'That would make it about twenty months pay, then.' Buzz interrupted as he met his crew at the door to the bridge. 'You're all late.'

'Sorry Buzz,' was the collective response. He straightened from his leaning position against the door frame. 'Not good enough. You were chattering all the way down the corridor, even though we're due for launch in less than twenty seconds!' He stopped, taking a breath. 'To your stations, all of you!'

Like chided schoolchildren, the crew quickly made their way to their stations as Buzz went to his chair. 'Honestly, the lot of you were behaving like adolescent rookies. I expected more from you.' He paused momentarily. 'But just for the record,' he said, turning to Booster. 'I happen to think that Tersovska cheats as well.'

Booster smiled as Buzz turned his attention to the forward viewpanel. 'Ignition sequence, Mira.'

'Launch in five.' Mira counted down, powering the engines as the cruiser began her rocky startup. 'Four.'

The launch door opened as the cruiser began to push forward, the shaking becoming less violent as they broke away from the station's gravity field. 'Three. Two. One.' Mira pushed the throttle forward as the thrusters switched over to cruise mode, pushing the ship away from the station as she began to adjust their heading. 'We're clear.' She said, switching on the hyperdrive as Buzz began to give the order.

'Set a course for sector nine four six, quadrant two,' he said as Mira entered the coordinates. 'Activate hyperdrive on my mark.'

'Cruiser 98, this is Star Command.' An LGM said. 'Commence operation Black Falcon.'

'Operation Black Falcon commencing.' Buzz said as XR nodded, pushing a button. 'Commander, are we good to go?'

'As ready as we'll ever be.' Nebula's sandpaper voice said over the intercom. 'You'll rendezvous with 58 and 26 at the target coordinates. They'll be a few hours behind you though; you know how it is with those old model cruisers.' He said with a touch of exasperation in his voice.

'Yes sir.' Buzz replied. 'Team Lightyear, over and out.' He ended the transmission as he nodded to a waiting Mira. 'Engage.'

'Sir.' She replied as she threw the switch.

Stars streaked backwards and around, as the shimmering blue overtook their vision. 'Hyperdrive engaged.' She reported, checking her instruments. 'No field irregularities.'

'Good.' Buzz said, leaning back. 'Smooth sailing, from here to target coordinates.' He said as he threw up his hands. 'Why does it always have to be so boring before we get to the good part?'

'Now who's being an adolescent rookie?' Mira said, turning in her chair and smiling.

'Touché.' Buzz replied as he had his first good look at Mira's necklace. 'My, that is lovely.'

'Whaddya expect; her boyfriend's got good taste.' XR said as he spun around aimlessly in his chair.

'XR!' Mira said, turning to face her crewmate.

'Boyfriend?' Buzz furrowed his brow. 'When did you get a boyfriend?'

'Gee, Buzz,' Booster noted. 'You have been away a long time.'

'Alright, Buzz my man, let me give you a rundown of current events since you left.' XR said, wheeling up to Buzz's chair. 'Power failure at Star Command reactor control. Core breach barely averted, but fortunately the LGM backup systems came online. Trade routes between Jo-Ad and Ferulia were hijacked. Three times in two weeks. Pirates were heavily armed, and are suspected to be a part of the GPF Federation.' He stopped, taking a breath for effect. 'And Mira got a boyfriend.'

Buzz raised his eyebrows. 'Wow.' He said, putting his hands behind his head. 'You leave town to do one black bag operation and the whole galaxy goes on without you.' Mira was, by now, blushing. 'So, who's the lucky ruffian?'

'Only Pierce Ward.' XR said. 'The second hunkiest ranger on the entire station next to yours truly.'

'XR!' Mira repeated, her cheeks going purple. 'He's not that good looking.'

'Mmhm,' nodded XR. 'I'll buy that one when Tersovska loses to Olsof.' He turned to Booster. 'Which'll never happen, mind you, so it's a pretty sure bet that Pierce is very ha-'

'Olsof can too beat Tersovska!' Booster said.

Buzz looked like he was still recovering from shock. 'Pierce Ward?' He said, overcoming his surprise. 'You're dating Pierce Ward?'

'We are not dating!' She said, drawing her hair back behind her ear.

'Sure...' XR said. 'You're not dating but you were both making out in the briefing room while Commander Nebula- Hey!' XR stumbled as Mira threw her shoe at him. 'What was that for?

'We were not making out!' She said indignantly.

'Are you kidding? Gazing deeply into each other's eyes...' XR began, stretching out his arms as his optics flickered shut.. 'Staring further into the other's soul than any person has ever gone before...'

'Hey, I haven't been gone that long, have I?' Buzz exclaimed. 'Since when is that considered "making out"?'

'Buzz, this is Mira we're talking about. Holding hands is considered making out.' XR said as he dodged the other shoe.

'Stop it XR!' She said just as a rumble echoed throughout the ship. Buzz sat up straight as another tremor rocked the cruiser.

'What was that?' He asked, his hands firmly on his chair.

'Engine two is off sync with the others.' XR reported as he hopped back into his chair, turning to face his panels. 'Someone's going to have to go realign the field emitters.'

Another rumble permeated the conversation. Mira pushed buttons and brought up display readings, her earlier aggression forgotten. 'We're losing the hyperdrive field. Integrity at ninety two percent and falling.'

'I'll go realign the emitters.' XR said, making his way toward the door.

'No. Mira, you're with me.' Buzz said, halting the robot who turned to look at him quizzically. 'You stay and monitor the field.'

XR shrugged. 'Aye sir.' He managed a salute and plunked himself back into the chair as Buzz walked out of the bridge, a stumbling Mira following him as she attempted to put her shoes back on.

The door hissed shut and XR turned to Booster. 'He must want to talk to her about her boyfriend.'

'I want to talk to you about Pierce.' Buzz said as the field emitter panel unfolded in front of him.

Mira hesitated for a moment before speaking. 'Is that why you asked me to come with you?'

'Does it take two people to realign a field emitter?' He asked, smiling at her for a moment before turning back to the calculations. 'So.' He said after a fashion. 'How long have you and Pierce been together?

Mira smiled awkwardly. 'It's been a while,' she said. 'We never officially declared ourselves together or anything, but we just got to, you know.' She made little shrugging motions. 'Liking each other.'

'Ah,' Buzz took his hands off the panel, a wistful look in his eye. 'The rituals of love.'

'It's been about two months.' She said.

'Two months, hm,' Buzz thought. 'He must really like you to give you a necklace like that.'

'I should stop wearing it in public!' Mira said, reaching to unclasp the necklace. 'It's caused me enough embarrassment already.' She collected up the chain and placed it in her pocket.

'Yes, that's true.' Buzz chuckled. 'Well, I'm,' he said, finishing the calculations. 'I'm happy for you, Mira. Pierce is a good man.'

'I know.' She responded almost immediately, catching Buzz half by surprise as she nodded. 'I know.'

Buzz stood there, contemplating what to say when Booster's voice came over the comm system. 'We're approaching target coordinates, Buzz. Should I kill the hyperdrive?'

'Go ahead.' Buzz said as the ship stopped its gentle vibrating, indicating that the hyperdrive field had been destabilized. 'Come on,' he said as made his way through the door which led out of the engine room. 'We can talk later.'