Time For Understanding

Time For Understanding
By: Elizabeth

Author's update note: Found some mistakes, decided to fix them and resubmit the fic. Enjoy.

Author's note: Just a little story I wrote. I was bored this weekend. Stuck in bed with a cold. If this is bad, blame it on the Nyquil.


PLANETOID OMEGA:


Laser fire erupted from every direction, hitting buildings, and the causing the terrified citizens of Planetoid Omega to seek shelter from the laser bolts and falling debris. The metallic army responsible for the destruction advanced on the citizenry, each robotic soldier firing a bolt of energy with each step.
In the midst of all the chaos, the crew of Star Cruiser 42 stood their ground and returned fire in an effort to stop the approaching army.
"Buzz! There are too many of them!" Ranger Mira Nova cried, firing her wrist laser at one of the invading robots. "Where is that back-up you said was coming?!"
Lightyear didn't answer her and pushed her and the other two members of his team behind a large slab of concrete that had fallen from one of the buildings. The team continued to fire from their makeshift shelter, but their efforts weren't having much of an effect.
"What are we going to do?" Booster asked, peering around the corner of the concrete slab, only to see more metallic soldiers approaching. "There's even more of them now!"
"Back-up should be here any minute." Buzz said calmly.
"Yeah, but if any more of these guys show up we won't have a minute." Mira said, frowning. She fired her laser at one of the robots, causing it to fall in an explosion of sparks.
"No minute, no second, no nothing." XR chimed in. The little robot whipped out a pen and clipboard and began writing. "XR was a great ranger, but his glorious career was cut short because there was no…BACK-UP!"
"Hang tight, team. They should be…LOOK OUT!" Buzz yelled. Laser fire had hit the building that was behind them, causing a shower of debris to come crashing down. Booster, grabbing XR, dove out of the way of a large chunk of concrete. He heard a scream of pain and looked around nervously for his two teammates.
"Buzz? Mira?" He called out. "Are you guys okay?"
"I'm okay, Booster." Buzz answered, standing up slowly. His suit was slightly torn and it was dirty, but otherwise he looked uninjured. "Mira? Mira, are you okay?"
The only answer was a groan coming from a pile of debris. Booster quickly cleared away the rubble and found Mira lying in a heap, nearly unconscious. Buzz was at her side immediately, accessing her injuries.
"She's been hit." Buzz said, taking notice of the hole and laser burn on the left shoulder area of her suit. "Looks like she's got a leg injury from the debris falling on her, probably a fractured ankle."
Lightyear looked at the other two rangers, concern registering on his face. He pressed the communication button on his suit. "Star Command, this is Lightyear. Do you read?"
"Yes. This is Star Command. Go ahead, Lightyear."
"I need a medical unit to Planetoid Omega. We have a ranger down."


STAR COMMAND SPACE STATION:


Commander Nebula walked into the station's med lab, his artificial leg causing a noticable limp in his stride. In all his years as the station's commander, he never could get used to seeing one of his rangers lying on a gurney, injured. He knew there were risks to military life, as did his crew, but he still could never get used to the sight.
Lightyear was standing at the glass partition that separated him from the recovery area where his teammate lay, completely unaware that someone had joined him.
"How is she?"
"Wha…oh, better. She hasn't woken up from surgery yet, but the doctor thinks she'll make a full recovery."
"I contacted Tangea, Buzz." The commander said. "King Nova is on his way here now and I have a feeling that things are going to get a little messy. He kept saying he was going to take Ranger Nova home."
Buzz sighed. "Mira won't like that. She knew the risks. She'll fight him on it."
"I know, but I don't see how much good it will do. He seemed pretty set in removing her from the station and from Star Command entirely."
Lightyear frowned. He knew that Mira joining Star Command was a sore issue with her father and he knew that Tangea's ruler would do anything to separate her from the military organization. He had listened to Mira talk about her father on many occasions and knew that not having his approval on being a ranger hurt the young woman deeply.
"Buzz, she's waking up." Commander Nebula said, interrupting Lightyear's thoughts. The young woman stirred, her eyes trying to open.
Both men walked into the recovery area, relieved to see her coming out of the anesthetic. Mira managed to open her eyes enough that she could see the two senior officers. She looked around a little and then at the two men with some confusion.
"What am I doing in med lab?" She asked, her voice barely audible.
"You were hit by laser fire on Planetoid Omega and had to have surgery for the laser injury. Your ankle is broken too. But the doctor said you should be up and about in no time." Buzz answered, smiling.
"So it looks like I'll have a few days of rest." Mira whispered. Buzz nodded and the Tangean sighed, disappointed she couldn't perform her duties.
"Your father's been contacted, Ranger Nova. He's on his way here now. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you're awake." The Commander said.
Mira frowned. "So much for resting. I guess the doctor will be adding a huge headache to the list of what's wrong with me."
A tall reddish colored alien wearing a while lab coat came into the recovery area. He was holding a piece of paper in one of his four hands. "Everything looks good. I'm sure Ranger Nova would be more comfortable in her own quarters, so we'll move her there in a little while. I'll have her monitored for the next few days, just in case."


Having been transferred into her quarters, Mira finally felt like she could relax. At least until her father came. The pain medication the doctor had given her was starting to take effect and the young woman began to drift off to sleep. Somewhere in her medication-induced fog she heard voices and the familiar swish of the door to her quarters opening.
"Mira! Are you all right?!"
Her eyes snapped open and somehow through her blurry vision she saw a tall, well-dressed Tangean hurrying to her side.
"Father?"
King Nova took his daughter's hand in both of his, squeezing it. "You had me worried, daughter. I didn't know what had happened to you. I thought you had been killed."
"Takes a lot to take me out of commission." She said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I'm okay. The doctor said I'll be able to get out of bed in a few days."
Tangea's ruler enveloped his daughter in a hug, causing her to wince slightly from the pain in her shoulder. "I'm just happy to see you're all right. As soon as you are able to get out of bed, I'll take you home to Tangea."
Mira pulled away suddenly, her eyes wide. "What?!"
"I think it would be better for you to return to Tangea and leave Star Command. You are heir to the throne, my dear, and this incident just proves that Star Command is too dangerous. Your life is precious, not only to me, but to the people of Tangea."
Mira narrowed her eyes, pressed her lips into a firm line, and raised her chin in defiance. "No. I am not leaving with you. I am an officer of Star Command and I have duties that are important here. I have a life of my own here. I'm not going to give it up, Father."
King Nova stood up from his seat on the edge of Mira's bed and stared down at her with the cold, hard gaze of someone who was used to being in control.
"You will go back to Tangea and I will hear no more of this Star Command nonsense. You are the daughter of a king and it is high time you took your duties as princess seriously. There will be no more of this flitting around the galaxy, I will make sure of it."
He turned and walked out of her quarters, not seeing the pained expression on his child's face or the tears welling up in her eyes.
"You'll never understand." Mira whispered as she watched her father leave, tears streaming down her cheeks. Years of feeling trapped and upset finally caught up with the princess and burying her face in her pillow, she cried herself to sleep.


Buzz looked up from the paper he was reading just in time to see the ruler of Tangea storm past the doorway to the lounge. The king looked angry and upset, moving quickly in the direction of Commander Nebula's office. Lightyear looked at the other members of his team, the expressions on their faces telling him that they had seen the same thing.
"I guess Mira and her father had a fight." Booster said softly.
"When are Mira and her father not having a fight? All those two do is fight. I'm surprised they haven't killed each other yet." XR said, shaking his metallic head.
Things were quiet for a few moments as the team sat silent, each was thinking of what the consequences of this latest argument would be. Booster looked at Buzz, his round, red face visibly upset.
"He's going to force Commander Nebula to discharge Mira, isn't he?"
"I don't know, Booster. I hope not." Lightyear said, sighing heavily.
"Oh c'mon, Buzz. You saw the man as he walked past. He didn't look like he was going to talk to the Commander about the weather. Let's face it, Mira's career in Star Command is finished." The little robot said.
"XR! Don't say that!" Booster cried.
"Sorry, big guy. But it's true. We all know the man has been itching to get her out of the Rangers from the day she entered the academy."
The Jo-adian opened his mouth to say something, but footsteps coming in their direction stopped him from speaking. The Commander appeared at the doorway with a very smug looking King Nova standing behind him. Team Lightyear stood up from their seats and the Commander stepped forward, his expression clearly saying that what he was about to tell them was not going to be good.
"King Nova has convinced me that it would be in Ranger Nova's best interests for me to issue her a discharge." He looked directly at Lightyear. "I'm sorry, Buzz."
Booster's face crumpled and he sat down, tears forming in his eyes. XR, for once, was silent. Buzz stood his ground and his gaze moved from the Commander, to the king, and finally back to the Commander.
"With your permission, sir, I would like to be the one to tell Ranger Nova." He said. "I think it would be better for her if I did."
"Providing His Highness thinks it is acceptable, permission granted."
Nova rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, whatever. I'll expect my daughter to be ready to leave once she is able to travel."
The king turned and walked away, leaving the four officers alone. Team Lightyear looked at Commander Nebula and the elder officer sighed heavily.
"Buzz, would you join me in my office in a few minutes."


The Commander was sitting behind his desk, looking more tired and older than Lightyear had ever seen him.
"Have a seat." Nebula said, gesturing towards the chair in front of his desk.
Buzz sat down. "Sir, if I may…"
Nebula held up a hand to silence him and shook his head. "I know that you are wondering why I discharged Mira. I had no choice, Buzz. King Nova threatened to pull Tangea out of the Galactic Alliance if I didn't. We couldn't have that happen. The Alliance needs the trade and travel routes around Tangea. With the constant disruptions by Zurg and the rest of his nasty little group lately, trade and traveling between worlds has decreased. Planetoid Omega is a perfect example. The citizens are too afraid and too focused on rebuilding to worry about anything else. We need Tangea's cooperation and the routes around the planet to help keep things afloat."
Buzz sighed. He knew the logic behind Nebula's decision to agree with King Nova's demands. Sacrifice the one to save the many. Sacrifice Mira's happiness to save the Alliance. But it still didn't make him any less angry.
"I understand the reason, sir, but this is going to destroy Ranger Nova."
"Don't you think I considered her feelings? I know Star Command is where she wants to be. She was the top graduate of her class, an outstanding ranger, and an asset to this organization. But my hands are tied here, Buzz. I regret issuing the discharge, but I had no choice."
"So what's going to happen now?"
"Nova is going to keep his cruiser docked here at the station. He said he was going to stay on it, seeing as there are quarters for him and his attendants on board. I know he hopes to take Mira back to Tangea in three or four days."
"I better tell her now and get it over with." Buzz said. The Commander nodded and the ranger moved towards the doorway.
"Buzz…"
Lighyear turned and faced the Commander.
"Tell her I'm sorry."


The captain of Cruiser 42 emerged from his teammate's quarters and leaned wearily against the wall. Telling Mira she was going to be discharged was probably on of the hardest things he would ever have do.
Mira had sat there, listening to him say that her career was finished, like a statue. There had been no emotion in her face or in her eyes, just a stiff, cold sort of composure that had thrown Buzz for a loop. He had expected her at least to argue with him, but she didn't even do that. Just thanked him for telling her in a voice as emotionless as her face and then saying she wanted to sleep.
He moved away from the wall, squared his shoulders, and made his way back towards the lounge where Booster and XR were waiting.


Mira sat up in her bed, her mind was reeling, her emotions in turmoil. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, tears she had tried desperately to hide from Buzz. She had not wanted him to see her cry. Everything important to her was now gone. Her accomplishments, her career, her friends, and most of all her freedom; it was all gone.
She would not go back to Tangea. She didn't care anymore about being a princess. Without Star Command, being a princess was like living in a prison. She didn't want that kind of life again.
Mira stopped crying long enough to realize the only way to escape her fate was to leave before her father came to take her away.
Carefully moving herself to the edge of the bed, the princess looked down at her broken ankle. It was being held in a cast of some sort. It wasn't bulky, but fitted tightly around her injured joint. She figured she could probably get her space suit on over it and slowly eased herself into a standing position. Dizziness from lying down for so long took a brief hold of the young woman, but it passed quickly and she stood up without too much difficulty.
Mira knew exactly what she needed to do and slowly hobbled over to the closet. She pulled a spare suit from her closet and with a little effort she managed to put it on. Mira moved slowly towards the doorway and the door opened for her automatically. She peered out into the hallway, happy to see that no one was there.
The princess limped towards the shuttle bay and found to her relief that there was a one-man shuttle available. And no LGMs in sight. Pressing a few buttons on a console near the shuttle, Mira disabled the warning alarms that alerted the station when a spacecraft was being launched.
The princess climbed into the shuttle and pressed the button that started the engines. The little ship moved out of the launch bay and sped off into space.


Commander Nebula looked over the station reports that dealt with station activity for the day. One entry caught his eye and he headed towards the shuttle bay. Three LGMs stared at him with their large eyes as he walked into the bay.
"Oooooh Commander!" They all said in unison.
"Could you tell me what was wrong with shuttle 10? The report says it was launched for a maintenance flight."
One of the little green aliens took the paper and looked at it. The other two peered over his shoulders, each wearing an expression of confusion.
"Don't know, Commander." The little alien holding the report said. "We didn't schedule any maintenance flight."
Nebula thought for a moment and then he turned quickly and left the shuttle bay. "Have Lightyear and his team report to me in my office."

"Mira's gone."
Team Lightyear stood in the Commander's office, expressions of shock registering on Booster and XR's faces. Buzz looked relatively calm, like someone who had been expecting to hear this announcement.
"How? When?" Buzz asked.
"She took Shuttle 10. Somehow she disarmed the alarms and made it look like it had been scheduled for a maintenance flight. Happened about an hour ago."
"Then she's got a little bit of a head start." Lightyear motioned for his team to follow him. "We'll take 42 and start the search. King Nova is not going to be happy about this."
The three rangers left Nebula's office and headed towards their ship.
"Buzz, you knew she would do something like this, didn't you?" XR asked.
"I had a feeling." Lightyear answered. "You know Mira doesn't let anything stand in her way."
"I hope she's okay." Booster looked worried. "She's still injured."
"That's why we need to find her." Buzz opened 42's hatch and boarded the vessel. "C'mon team, let's bring Mira home."
"Right!" Boosters and XR exclaimed in unison, rushing into the ship.


SOMEWHERE OUT IN SPACE:
Mira stared out into space, not knowing exactly where she was heading. Her head was pounding and she slumped back into her seat, closing her eyes.
"Oh, I don't feel so good." She said out loud.
She opened her eyes and tried to focus on the star chart being displayed on her console.
"Wherever I go, it has got to be as far from this mess as possible." She muttered, activating the engines. But before she could leave her position, another vessel moved into her line of vision.
She grabbed the shuttle's controls and tried to evade the other ship. A warning alarm sounded informing the princess that the ship had locked its weapons on the shuttle. Trying desperately to escape, she saw a streak of light and the shuttle rocked beneath her. The little ship's alarms suddenly went haywire and the engines shut down.
"Craters!" She screamed in frustration.
The larger vessel loomed closer and Mira quickly identified the markings on the ship.
"Zurg."


STAR CRUISER 42:


"Keep your eyes peeled, Team." Buzz said. "She's out here somewhere."
"Buzz, I tried to trace the homing frequency for the shuttle, but I'm not getting thing." Booster said, looking up from his console.
"Blast! Mira must have deactivated it. See if you can pick up the shuttle's energy trail. If we're lucky and it hasn't faded, we can locate her that way."
"Got it." Booster began punching buttons.
"I don't know why we're even looking for her. Once we find her we're not going to be able to convince her to go back with us, and she'll just run away again." XR said.
"She's our friend, XR. We can't just let Mira roam around the galaxy injured and upset." Booster said softly.
"That's right, Ranger." Buzz chimed in. "We'll find her and then worry about the rest later."
"Whatever you say, Buzz." XR said. "But I guarantee that once we do get her back to the station, it won't be pretty. As a matter of fact, I am willing to bet there won't be a station after all this is over."


STAR COMMAND SPACE STATION:


"Commander Nebula, I want to know why my daughter was allowed to leave this space station!" King Nova shouted angrily.
The Commander stood his ground and frowned. "She was not allowed to leave. She disarmed the launch alarms and stole a shuttle. We don't know where she is. Lightyear has been searching for her and reported in a little while ago. Mira apparently has deactivated the shuttle's homing signal, so it's going to make finding her a little hard."
"What?! You mean to tell me that Lightyear is out searching for my daughter! That will not do, Commander."
Nebula folded his arms. "Mira was part of Buzz's team and if anyone can find her, he can."
"Correction," King Nova said. "If anyone is going to find Mira, it will be me. You…uh…space rangers do not have the mental powers we Tangeans have. We can track our own using our mental abilities. So call back Buzz Lightyear, I do not need his interference. I will find her on my own."


ZURG VESSEL:

Evil Emperor Zurg watched as two of his Hornets led the princess, whose wrists and ankles were shackled together, into his throne room. The Hornets pushed the young woman forward causing her to stumble, falling to her knees.
"Ah Ranger Nova, so nice of you to join us."
Mira looked up to see her enemy seated on his throne, looming high above her. He was smiling at her.
"Sorry about the shackles, but you rangers have a bad habit of escaping."
Mira frowned. "What do you want, Zurg? I'm not in the mood for games."
The self-proclaimed ruler of the galaxy leaned back in his throne. "Nothing really. We were out testing my newest ship and saw your vessel. And well, you know, force of habit. Something about that Star Command logo makes me want to shoot at it."
He laughed, causing the princess's eyes to narrow.
"And now that I have you, princess, I'll just have to come up with a diabolical plan to extract Star Commands secrets out of you. Yes, that's it! A plan that could only come from the most evil ruler in the universe."
"Mmm-hmm." A wicked little smile formed on Mira's face. "Real scary, Zurg, considering that this is coming from a guy who wears a dress."
Zurg jumped out of his throne and raised his fists in the air. "It is a robe! An evil emperor's robe!" He yanked Mira up off the floor by the shackles that bound her wrists and glared at her. "I was going to get the secrets and then enslave you, but after that crack, I think I'm in the mood for a good old fashioned execution! Hornets, take her away!"
Once Mira had been dragged off to await her fate in the brig, one of Zurg's little Grub helpers scurried up to his master.
"Um…Evil Emperor…sir…should we uh…make ready for the…uh…execution." The little bug-like alien stuttered.
"No, not yet!" Zurg said boisterously. "For some reason, Ranger Nova was by herself. Well no matter, I'm sure the rest of Team Lightyear can't be too far behind and when they try to save their precious princess, I will be able to rid myself of them for good!"

End of Part 1