Chapter 2

Star Command's Launch Bay:

Star Cruiser 42 set down in the Star Command launch bay. It had been a long stressful night but, the Galactic Olympics had gone off without delay thanks to Team Lightyear.

"Good job team," Buzz announced. "Now go get some rest, ASAP!"

"You don't have to tell me twice," Mira muttered, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Should we try to wake Booster?" she asked.

"No Ranger left behind, Mira!" Buzz stated, and then frowned, "Hey, where's XR?" he asked.

"Oh no!" Mira ran a hand over her blood shot eyes. "Did we really leave him at the women's swimming contest?"

No such luck, XR had simply fallen asleep and rolled behind Booster's control consol.

"Wake up guys, it's over," Mira called.

"Wow!" XR exclaimed, "that swimsuit get's a 9.5 in my book!" He said as his visual optics came to life. "Mira! You're swimming too?!"

That earned him a solid kick.

"Ouch! –Oh, I'm awake now," XR confirmed. Then muttered, "what set her off?"

"Come on Booster, we're home," Buzz called loudly as he shook the big rookie.

"Oh, sorry Buzz." Booster mumbled and opened sleepy eyes. "I guess I fell asleep…but I'm awake now."

X X X

Mira filed her report, and then grabbed a cup of strong coffee for the trip to her apartment. She caught her reflection in the coffee maker as it filled her cup. Her hair was full of sweat and tangle, and there were dark bags under her eyes.

"Ah, don't remind me," she told the coffee maker.

The long stressful shift had left her tired and ragged. But at least now her trials were over. First, a long hot shower, then she was going to sleep till noon tomorrow!

She turned around with eager thoughts of comfort and—smashed directly into a wall. That wasn't there a moment ago, she assured herself.

Okay, okay, technically it was Ranger Avent Horizon, but at the moment of impact, it had fooled Mira.

"Ow!" Mira stumbled back, shaking the hand that had taken the brunt of the impact. "Where'd you come from?" she demanded.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Avent offered, clearly surprised as she. "I didn't-- I mean, I thought you saw me. I didn't know I was so easy to miss. It's not like anyone could miss seeing you," he said.

Something in his voice made Mira look up.

"Ah…" the Urikry Ranger stammered under her gaze. "Duty calls," he said, and saluted her.

After he had gone, Mira realized she had emptied her coffee all over Ranger Avent when she ran into him. As she filled a fresh cup, she was once again confronted by her reflection. But even as her own disgust rose at her current condition, Avent's words came back;

"It's not like anyone could miss seeing you."

The words, full of simple admiration, rang so clear, Mira had to turn around to make sure Avent was not still behind her. They made her feel strange, they made her feel… well, beautiful. She decided it was a nice feeling. It had been a long time since someone had noticed her in that way.

As Mira's hover car descended toward Capital Planet, a Star Cruiser blasted off from Star Command. It could have been any Star Cruiser, but the timing was right for it to be Star Cruiser 101.

"Thank you, Avent," Mira spoke, watching the departing Star Cruiser.

X X X

Star Cruiser 101, out bound from Star Command:

"You know Ranger Nova?" Avent asked in awe.

"Oh yes, I most certainly do," Phop affirmed with a chuckle. "She is the one that introduced me to Star Command. If it was not for her 'Challenge of Worth' I would still be playing croquet at the royal palace. What?"

"Challenge of Worth?" Avent asked.

"Yes," Phop confirmed, "see we were to be married, so to prove I was fit for her hand, she made a 'Tangiean Challenge of Worth' that I pass basic Ranger training. Of course I had no idea that it would be so much fun. I was so thrilled with Star Command and all this Ranger stuff, I decided to withdraw my proposal and joined Star Command. What?"

"Wow! That's… some story," Avent said trying to sort out what to believe and what not to believe.

"Yeah, you should have seen it in color, Horizon," Andromeda Flare put in sarcastically.

"Oh that sounds so romantic!" Terra Terrafirmia said as her eyes glossed over.

"What? Getting dumped for Ranger training?" Andromeda asked. "I would land our star cruiser on the guy who dared dump me like that!"

"Well actually, looking back I now realize that Ranger Nova was less than thrilled toward the idea of marring me," Phop said in a rare and thoughtful voice. "You know, she threatened to break my jaw the day of our wedding."

"Why am I not surprised?" Andromeda muttered.

"Oh how romantic!" Terra repeated.

Avent rubbed a hand on one side of his face. Some things where better left unknown.

The radio crackled to life.

"Code 417, child stuck in an air duct, sector eleven," the LGM voice announced.

"Star Cruiser 101, responding," Avent confirmed.

X X X

Star Command Training Deck:

Mira looked down on the training floor from the observation deck. Practice laser fire and simulated explosions flashed across the windows.

"Check your fire Ranger Avent!" Nebula yelled into the microphone. "We've got friendlies in the area."

"Roger," Avent's level voice acknowledged.

"Nice shooting Phop," Nebula praised. "Don't outpace your partner."

"Jolly-good, Commander Nebula, sir."

Mira was familiar with the scenario, it was a VIP hostage situation, number twenty-two and the final phase was just beginning.

"Check this out Mira," Nebula invited pleasantly. "Watch Avent when the kidnapper uses the VIP as a shield," he instructed.

As he finished, the Ranger force began the final phase. The kidnapper ran out the back door, using the VIP as a human shield.

"Power down your weapons!" the kidnapper shouted. "Or--!" He never finished his threat.

Avent had taken aim, and fired his Star Command Laser Rifle, blasting the android's head, dead-center.

Pieces bounced off the observation window. Commander Nebula shook his head grimly. "He can do that every time, and fast!"

"Ah-ha!" Avent rejoiced, and then blew the smoke from the muzzle of his rifle. "How about that?" he called up to Commander Nebula.

"Not bad," Nebula agreed. "But you need to work more with your fellow Ranger units, son."

"Aye sir," Avent agreed, clearly deflated.

"Alright people, I've seen some good improvement. Let's clear the floor for the next class," Nebula ordered, then added, "Except you Avent, I want you to work some more on you communication protocols."

"Aye sir," Avent answered in a neutral voice.

"What is Avent being punished for, Buzz?" Booster asked as Team Lightyear made their way down to the training floor.

"Leaving gum on a commanding officer's chair?" XR suggested. "Snoring in class, forgetting to put on under-arm deodorant, not showering for a week, maybe?"

"Eewww!" Mira said.

"It's worse than that, Rangers," Buzz informed them gravely. "Commander Nebula is always on the lookout for possible candidates to take over when he retires," he explained.

"And he thinks Avent can do that?" Mira asked in disbelief.

"Well nothing's certain at this point," Buzz said. "But after about ten years of grueling evaluation and training, under the keen eyes of Commander Nebula, there just might be a chance," he concluded.

"All things considered, I think I'd rather the week with no shower," Mira said. The thought of Commander Nebula scrutinizing her every moment for the next ten years sent an involuntary shudder through her.