A/N - Again, it's been too long. I really need to update more frequently. XD This chapter's a little more interesting ... hopefully.

Chapter III

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I wonder why you've been hurting
I wish I had some way to say
You're going through so much
Don't you know that I could be the one to hold you?
"Yours to Hold" - Skillet

Tony: What are you doing, Ziva?
Ziva: I'm observing you, Tony.
Tony: Could you do it in a less creepy manner?
NCIS - "Silver War"

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After tossing and turning on a rather uncomfortable mattress for a good half-hour, Commander Nebula finally sat up in bed, grumbling as he buried his face in his palms. He lifted his head slightly, staring mindlessly at the empty walls of his dark room. Then he sighed heavily.

It was no use. He wouldn't be able to get back to sleep - not after being rudely awakened by the raucous voices in the hallway. (Seriously, who would be arguing at this time of night?) He was relieved when he finally heard a metallic voice break up the fight. Nebula smiled to himself. Good, old, dependable XR.

But even after the argument in the hallway had ceased, Nebula still couldn't drift off into slumber. Something deep inside of him was nagging him - something big and something bad. He had the strangest, most intense feeling that all was not well, and that something very horrible was going to happen. This overwhelming sense of impending doom was consuming him - occupying his mind and making it impossible to sleep. And he realized that no amount of logical reasoning would make this dread go away.

Nebula sighed again. Why bother fighting it? It was obvious that he wouldn't be getting his much needed rest, at least not tonight anyway. Frustrated and annoyed, Nebula flung himself out of bed, after fighting for a brief moment to free himself from the sheets he had tangled himself in. He trudged slowly into the bathroom, mumbling something about the curses of insomnia.

In the bathroom, he flicked on the light with one hand and turned the faucet with the other. As he let the water run, he surveyed his haggard appearance in the mirror, and responded to what he saw by simply shaking his head in resignation. Turning and reaching for a towel, his eyes wandered over the small window on the opposite side.

Nebula froze in his place, gaping at what he saw. No ... it couldn't be. It shouldn't be! Not here, not now. Not after all they'd been through. They'd been so cautious, so careful. They'd worked so hard to stay under the radar for so long. It was simply impossible. How could it have happened! It shouldn't have ...it couldn't have. He couldn't have found them now!

But he had. There was no mistaking it. There was Buzz Lightyear's massive dreadnaught looming ominously above Star Command as plain as day. He'd done it somehow. And of course he had. After all, it was Buzz Lightyear. He could do anything.

Just then, Commander Nebula quickly snapped out of his stupor, the cruel reality finally dawning on him. He knew what they would have to do. They would have to evacuate, and they would have to hurry if they wanted to get out alive.

----

"So ... uh, here we are." XR offered, pushing open the double doors to the recreation room.

"Yeah. So we are." Mira replied weakly. She trudged past XR as he held the door open for her, mumbling a quick, barely-audible 'thank you' as she passed.

XR stood in the doorway, observing her silently. He watched as she crossed the room slowly, and plopped down on the scratchy green couch in the corner of the room, sighing wearily and staring down at the floor. Seeing her there, she looked so small and downcast. XR tilted his head slightly. He noticed a small, single tear running slowly down her cheek. He felt his engine churn uncomfortably. Watching her was making his heart break ... or at least, his robot equivalent of a heart.

Mira could feel a pair of eyes on her. Slowly, she lifted her head and saw the large robot standing there, staring at her.

"What?" She asked, slightly annoyed.

XR jerked. Oh craters, she must've thought ... oh, why did he have to stare at her like an idiot?

"N - Nothing," He stammered. He turned away from her, feeling his face get hot with embarrassment. Desperately, he tried to think of something to say. Anything ...

He spotted a coffee maker across the room from where Mira was sitting. Perfect. "Uh ... Mira? W-would," XR cleared his throat, "would you like some coffee?"

"Mmm-hmm." Mira nodded slowly. "Sure, thanks." She whispered softly.

"No problem." XR chuckled nervously, as he busied himself with the coffee maker. Phew, that was close, he thought.

Mira shook her head. What was up with him? He probably doesn't want to talk to me, Mira thought, and who can blame him after how I treated him. Why do I have to do that? She heaved a deep sigh and felt her throat sting as she fought back the tears again.

The silence was now getting very unbearable. XR stood by the coffee maker, his back to Mira, racking his micro-chip brain to think of the right thing to say. He didn't want to upset her further, but he wanted to know ... he needed to know ... why she was so sad.

"Uh, Mira..." He started.

"What?" She asked sullenly.

"Th-there was something ... before I mean. You," His voice became soft and low, "you were crying."

"Yeah ...so?" Mira said defensively, wiping her cheek self-consciously

"No, I just wanted to know why you were ... you know, upset." He explained, turning around to face her. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Really?" She asked hopefully. Her face light up slightly and her ruby-red lips curved into a small, shy smile. XR felt his engine rev as he looked into her big, blue eyes. She was smiling now. That was good. It meant that he said the right thing.

"Yeah," he said slowly, "I mean, you're upset. So ... yeah." XR mentally kicked himself. He could've worded that better.

Mira lowered her head and frowned slightly. "Yeah, well ... I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh," XR said disappointedly, "Well, that's okay." Yup, definitely could've worded that better.

Suddenly, the coffee maker bubbled and sputtered loudly, sending a thin spray of brown liquid into the air. XR jumped back quickly. Mira blinked.

"Uh, is it supposed to do that?" She asked.

"Yeah." XR admitted, "It's kind of ..." The coffee maker shook violently, then stopped, and emitted a low grumbling noise. "...temperamental." XR finished, he glanced back at Mira and shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay..." She said slowly.

"Here." XR handed her a small, green Star Command mug and a small silver spoon.

"Thanks." She whispered. XR watched her hold the mug in her small, delicate hands. But she didn't take a drink - she just sat there, stirring it slowly.

She looked up at him. He was staring ... again. "Is there a problem?" She asked bluntly.

XR shook his head and blinked. He was doing it again, wasn't he? "No ... no problem."

"Then why do you keep staring at me?" She asked impatiently.

"Uh, well ... I..."

Suddenly, an alarm started to blare loudly. Mira jumped with a gasp, nearly dropping her mug of coffee onto the floor. XR's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What's that?" Mira yelled above the noise.

"Red alert!" XR shouted back. His engine went into overdrive. "C'mon, we need to get outta here!" He scooped Mira up in his big, metal arms. He stared at him, utterly startled.

"What are you doing?! Put me down!" She cried, as they rushed through the double doors.

He flung her over his shoulder. "No time to explain! We need to get out of here!"

LOL. Mira's not going to be too happy.