Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

Psyche

(Disclaimer: Still own nothing from BLoSC. Reviews are appreciated.)

0000

During King Nova's subsequent royal ball, the chefs served wine early – Mira's wish come true. However, she refrained from drinking herself stupid; faint tipsiness sufficed, granting her a welcome sense of serenity.

Perfect for accepting dance requests.

She now danced with her sixth consecutive noble, a braggart named Orion Pleiades who owned two left feet, but, giving a lesser bother by the wine's graces, she managed. Still, a lady could take only so many smashed toes during one orchestral movement.

Mira and her partner passed close to another couple, and she recognized both dancers, Elara Cressida and Altair Rigel. Of Altair, Mira knew little, but she and Elara took etiquette classes together during their youth, and the "blossoming gentlewoman" loved making fun of her princess's spectacular embroidery failures when their group instructor turned her back.

"Hello, Lady Cressida."

"Oh, Princess Nova! You look well, my lady, and your ensemble is particularly stunning tonight."

"Thank you."

"Did you do the stitching yourself?"

Mira smiled sweetly. "Want to trade dance partners? Spice the night up a bit more?" She turned to Orion "Foot Crusher" Pleiades, sending him her finest Fluttering Eyelashes of Persuasion. "You wouldn't mind? I mean no insult of course."

"Uh, no, of course not, Princess Nova. Whatever Your Majesty desires."

The ladies twirled across the dance floor and into the arms of the men opposite them. Mira's seventh noble caught her without missing a beat, and they matched the orchestra's changing tempo.

Thanking the cosmos, Mira sighed, "Finally. My toes can recover."

Altair chuckled. "He took the phrase 'dancing toe-to-toe' a bit too far, huh?"

"A bit, yes."

"There's one in every crowd."

Maybe the wine affected her more than she thought, for Mira felt the strangest sense of…unease? Déjà vu? The feelings intensified when Altair lowered his head to whisper something into her ear.

"You're gonna have to try harder if you want to keep me out, princess."

Mira almost ghosted through her own skin.

"And before you think of calling security, you might wanna disable my latest 'safeguards' first."

Anger drove away her fright (and her buzz, fraggit) to the point socking Darkmatter's big fat jaw sounded like a fantastic idea. Warp must've felt it – Mira's left-hand nails digging into his shoulder probably gave her away – and he tightened his grip on her right hand.

"You're cute when you're feisty, but don't push your luck."

"How, Darkmatter?" Mira lowered her voice enough for only the two of them to hear. "How have you slipped past us again? What did you do with the real Altair?"

"You make it sound like it's a challenge. As for the Altair guy, let's just say he's blazing a trail and exploring new territory across the galaxy."

"Give me. A real. Answer."

"Secrets. Of. The trade."

Mira ground her teeth until they hurt, and Warp's breath ghosting over her ear helped nothing, nor did the placement of his cybernetic arm across the small of her back. And…her body found zero problems being held close to his.

Space Ranger training? What Space Ranger training?

Then came perhaps the worst, most ironic aspect of the moment: Their dance, which Warp led with practiced ease, was a waltz.

Never mind the accursed stutter; Mira's twitching eye needed the bulk of her reflex control now.

"Princess of Tangea, Queen of Mixed Signals." Warp spun her around, her back flush against his chest. "Not that I'm complaining."

Scenting musk, Mira jolted and missed a step. "W-What? There's, there's nothing to mix," she protested, her cheeks burned red hot. "Nothing!"

"Sure, because I, with my own personal moon and summer asteroid staffed full of gorgeous female employees, wouldn't know a thing about women."

"I know for a fact you did not just relate me to your working girls, Darkmatter, and knowing all about cheap floozies doesn't come close to knowing anything about ladies."

"One: Those floozies aren't cheap, which is kind of the point." Warp spun Mira back around again. "Two: You've had…eight chances to trade me off like Sir Stomps-A-Lot, and yet we're still dancing the night away. Any specific reason why?"

"Yes, actually. One: Keeping you here where I can watch you rather than letting you slip off somewhere is safer for Tangea."

"Not exactly true."

"Two:" Mira snarled, "I've got my 'how' answer, though certainly no sane person would ever―"

"Hey, I'll have you know I'm in perfect mental health."

Mira's fury blazed. "Because betraying the Galactic Alliance, Star Command, and your best friend just for some glitzy paychecks from Evil Emperor Zurg is what any psychologically stable person would do. 'To protect and defend all sentient beings against injustice'? What a joke, right? Who cares how many lives you ruin so long as you, Warp Darkmatter, get your cut at the end of the day? Money, toys, girls, and the lap of luxury – that's all that matters. Well, let's hope you can keep finding fulfillment in your bloody riches, because they won't mitigate the fact that in the end, you, Warp Darkmatter, are alone and completely unloved throughout the entire fragging universe. When your selfishness eventually gets you killed, I bet the entire Galactic Alliance will rejoice over finally being able to forget all about you and the miserable life you lived."

Warp gawked at her. Did she see hurt flash in his shocked eyes?

Good.

"Feh. So much for enjoying the evening," Warp muttered.

"And on that subject, I no longer need you to tell me the real reason you've hung around." Mira removed her left hand from Warp's shoulder and jabbed her index finger into his chest. "Listen and listen well, Darkmatter. I don't care how attractive my female instincts or your so-called 'staff' think you are; I am never going to be another notch in your bedpost. You could not have read me more wrong. Princess I may be, but your conquest I most certainly am not. How fragging dare you for thinking so, you money-grubbing, backstabbing swine."

He started objecting, but Princess Nova's riot act steamrolled over him.

"After tonight, you get off my planet and don't even think about coming back. If you do and I catch you, rest assured I will make you regret each and everymoment you played the part of Zurg's lapdog. And if one of your 'safeguards' activates and hurts any of my subjects once we're done here, I will not rest until I put you behind bars for the rest of your traitorous life."

"I would love to see you try, rookie. Oh, wait, your entire team has been trying and failing for literal years, or am I wrong?"

A few seconds earlier, the orchestra finished playing, and the Tangeans nearest the princess and her final dance partner now listened in on their two arguing brethren curiously.

Using her most regal voice, Mira commanded, "Unhand me this instant."

"Gladly, Your Highness."

A tense moment passed, Princess Nova and "Altair Rigel" on the apparent verge of an even more gossip-worthy spat.

"Centuries ago," Mira snarled, "they talked about the Seven Wonders of the World. Buzz's faith in you is the eighth."

Turning on her heel, she stormed out of the ball room and gave no care for her father's orders for her to return.

0000

If anyone asked Mira who grew angrier at the situation: Commander Nebula or King Nova, she would have answered, "Neither." The shouting match between the two leaders compared not to her utter outrage.

When she stalked out of the command center and past Buzz, he asked, "What did he say, Mira?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing much," she replied, flippant to an uncharacteristic degree, "just enough to make my father impose a ban on traveling a-a-and moving goods to or from Tangea, which forced me to-to choose between my 'responsibilities to my planet' or, Commander Nebula's recommendation, remaining at Star Command. Guess what I picked."

"You were upset before making your report." Buzz placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mira, tell me. What did he say?"

Her captain sounded so concerned, so willing to listen, and she almost hated him for it.

"Enough," Mira bit out, whirling away and heading straight for her quarters. She passed Booster and XR, but, catching one glimpse of her face, they gave her a wide berth by pressing against the other side of the hall.

0000

Not two weeks later, Team Lightyear interrupted a black market deal between Zurg and some goon on Tradeworld, and the Rangers ended up facing Warp Darkmatter, acting as Zurg's middle-man - what a surprise. The shrimp of an arms dealer stood no chance; Mira took him out first, squeezing his brain until he fell unconscious and then slapping on his brand new pair of cuffs.

Mira rejoined her team as they engaged Agent Z, and she fought like a demon. She seized every chance for a shot, sparing her personal safety negligible regard; if she couldn't bring Zurg's pet mercenary down, he would flee in pieces.

Ultimately, Darkmatter cut his losses and carried out a tactical retreat with half of the weapons he came for, his cybernetic arm hanging limp and sparking. Mira, consumed by fury, attempted pursuit, but Buzz caught her with an unyielding grip and forced her to the ground.

"Sweet mother of Venus, Ranger, what were you doing out there? Those stunts you pulled nearly got you vaporized!" he yelled.

"Although it made for some great footage for my first feature film, Rangers of the Lost Quark," XR announced.

"Th-Those 'stunts' also had Darkmatter on the ropes, if you didn't notice!" she yelled right back, ignoring XR. "If you'd let me go after him, I might, I might've a-a-at least been able to destroy―"

"No! Nothing is worth a Space Ranger acting like a fool! You know better, Mira!"

"I already have an infuriating father, Buzz; I'm not in the market for another!"

XR twiddled his fingers. "Yowch. Score one for the princess?"

"Mira, stop! Please!" Booster interposed himself between his arguing teammates. "We want to help you, but we can't do that if you don't―"

"Stay out of this, Booster! It's none of your business!" the princess snapped, regretting it when her gentle friend flinched away.

"Don't take your personal issues with Agent Z out on your comrades, Mira – and your attitude becomes Booster's business when it affects our performance in the field," said Buzz, patting Booster's arm. "Look, I know Warp better than anyone here; and there's no denying he can be…extremely unpleasant when the mood strikes him."

"'Extremely unpleasant'? 'Extremely unpleasant'?" Mira rounded on her captain. "You know what else Warp Darkmatter is, Buzz? An unrepentant traitor and a narcissistic, womanizing thug! In some ways, he's worse than Zurg!"

Booster stared, both hands in front of his mouth, and XR's commentary consisted of: "Whoa."

Meanwhile, Buzz turned stone-faced. "That's not true, Mira. Zurg is evil to the core, but I've seen good in Warp too many times to count – so have you three."

"We did?"

Under the three glowers aimed his way, XR backpedaled and recanted, "Hey, I neither confirm nor deny seeing anything related to one Warp Darkmatter's moral character."

"Not helping, XR," Booster reproved through his teeth.

"Even if that's true, Buzz," Mira said, "Darkmatter doesn't need to be pure evil in order to be petty and selfish, the two qualities at which he excels and ultimately chooses over all others. He only acts the hero when it's convenient for his interests! No matter how much you believe in him, he'll never change. It would save the Galactic Alliance and Star Command a heaping helping of time and energy if you would just accept reality and move on already. Do you even know how childish if not outright stupid you make yourself look by still believing in him after everything he's done? He's feeding you lies, and you just eat them up like you're a complete sucker!"

Buzz's scowl deepened, anger lighting his eyes, and Mira froze, almost not believing what just came out of her mouth.

"Ranger Nova, the recent misfortunes with Warp Darkmatter have affected you deeply; and understandably so," Captain Lightyear said very, very carefully. "Nonetheless, that is no excuse to perform acts of potentially lethal recklessness when engaging an armed and experienced criminal, nor do the troubles of your planet give you the right to mistreat your team.

"Until such time as excessive emotions no longer impair your judgment, I'm suspending you from active Space Ranger duty. You will hang up your suit and report directly to your quarters upon our return to Star Command."

0000

Few times did Mira ever feel more miserable, sequestered inside Star Command for the second week. Her punishment didn't limit her to her room; she ate her meals in the cafeteria, blew bouts of steam off in the gym, and spent time visiting the lounge. In the last area, Commander Nebula and his favorite LGMs taught her several card games at their table, though how Nebula told the LGMs apart, Mira never knew.

Sadly, none of those freedoms cleared her head for long. Wherever Mira went, others – LGMs, her fellow Rangers, and the regular Star Command staff – watched her, and the consideration of the nicer ones who tried doing so on the down-low left her feeling worse. A handful of watchers offered her their ears or whatever anatomical part with which they listened, but she refused each offer politely.

Though the very sight of her quarters drove her up the wall, no other place provided total privacy. But leaving her alone and stewing…

"Buzz has no right to stuff me away like this," Mira declared to the otherwise silent room. "He has no right!"

Her rational side chided her before the outburst's end. She acted beyond irrational on Tradeworld. No one could tell how many people her mission-long crusade for revenge might have hurt, or worse, and no amount of self-righteousness justified her ripping into her teammates, especially when they did nothing wrong. Both Ranger protocol and personal responsibility, to say nothing of the bonds of camaraderie, obligated Buzz to pull Mira from duty after the dangerous immaturity she displayed.

Mira flopped onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow. Why did she even care to let Warp Darkmatter get under her skin like this? He didn't double-cross her after several years of best-friendship, and she suffered plenty of less-than-savory guys, and a couple of gals (ugh), who tried charming their ways into her good graces. Not to mention, dozens of planets failed noticing Agent Z come and go - and there Mira found an answer. Darkmatter's "visiting" Tangea stung because the planet in question not merely belonged to but relied upon her, Princess Nova, in part, and like that little fact failed rankling her enough, Warp then taunted her to her face about his trespasses while threatening her subjects at the same time.

Though her aggravation smoldered, Mira no longer blamed her father for declaring Tangea a no-fly zone. If she held King Nova's much more rigid political position, the stars above knew she would err on the side of caution, prejudiced or not, if Agent Z bypassed heavy security two consecutive times like nothing more than air barred his way. Especially since both times, said agent found himself the perfect positions for the possible kidnapping or assassination of the Tangean throne's sole heir, all the while holding her people hostage without them even knowing.

Mira shuddered, remembering the distinct lack of space contained within the last niche Darkmatter carved for the two of them. Never did she wish to get so close to the man - screw the tux - and never ever did she expect her body's betrayal by…not…disliking…the…physical…contact.

Her rage flared anew, and she wanted to beat Warp into paste regardless of anyone's orders. Immediately, her rational side analyzed the reasoning behind the emotion. She felt base, goosebump-inducing physical interest for Warp Darkmatter and he attempted using it to his advantage. Something so altogether trivial made her angry enough to act like a nitwit while fighting on the Galactic Alliance's behalf? Not the threat to her planet? Or her people? Really?

"…I've seen good in Warp too many times to count – so have you three."

Mira huffed, squeezing the pillow's upper edge.

Beside her bed, the room's comm unit beeped, and a rough voice addressed her: "Ranger Nova. This is Commander Nebula. Please respond."

The commander sounded subdued, and Mira went on high alert.

"This is Ranger Nova responding," she replied. "What are your orders, sir?"

"Report to the critical care section of Medical on the double. It's an emergency."

Bounding out of bed, Mira spent more time ghosting than running to Star Command's medical wing. When she arrived in Crit-Care, she saw Commander Nebula, Booster, and XR crowded outside a room near the back. Taking a place beside them, she approached the viewing window, and her breath caught.

Lying unconscious within the hospital room was Buzz, attended by several Star Command medics. Barely an inch of his skin showed from under the bandages, gauze, and casts, and he was hooked up to life support.

0000

~Earlier In the Day~

"What did you say to her, Warp?"

"My line of work involves chatting up lots of ladies, Lightyear. You're gonna have to be a bit more specific."

"You are not dodging my question!"

"I can dodge anything you throw at me, Lightyear!"

"Great job on the banter, both of you! Now, if you wouldn't mind, a couple more explosions would make this scene!"

"Not the time or the place, XR!"

"I disagree. Ask and you shall receive, Tin Toy!"

"Turillium! Alloy! I am not―YAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"Booster, fall back and retrieve XR!"

"Yes, sir!"

"It's just you and me, Warp! Now, answer my question!"

"What's it to ya, Lightyear? The pwincess get her widdle feewings hurt?"

"Warp, what do you want from her? She doesn't fit the bill for one of your casual flings, and even you wouldn't stoop so low to defile royalty!"

"You do know that whole phrase about the dangers of assuming, right?"

"Blast it, Warp! I know there's good in you somewhere―"

"Oh, cripes, would you hop off the soapbox already? It got old on the first try; now it's just ridiculous! For the last time, we are not friends, and I am not exchanging the life I was meant to have for a glorified civil service job at Star Command! Get that through your thick, idealistic head and go shove your oversized chin―"

"WARP, LOOK OUT!"

"Wha―CRATERS!