10. Opportunities
Role Call: Buzz Lightyear
Buzz groaned as he sat on the bench and skimmed his homework notes again and again over regarding the manual. But it felt as though there was nothing concrete he could write about for his report. Even the peace and quiet of the Academy's small park couldn't inspire him.
"Havin' a tough time with your studies?"
Buzz instantly looked up from his homework, instantly recognizing that gruff foghorn. His own voice, normally confident, wavered a bit in excitement. "Commander Nebula!"
A bemused grunt blew past the old man's mustache. "Relax, son, you're not in trouble with me. I'm here to check up on how things are goin' here at the Academy like I said I would at the start of the semester. But you look like you've got trouble with your homework. What's on your mind?"
"Uh… well, uh…" Buzz bit his lip, unsure of how to voice his frustrations to the organization's leader…especially since it was Nebula who wrote the regulations for the Space Ranger Corps. Coughing, he replied, "I'm tryin' to write a report on the history of Star Command and how it's changed over the years. That's why I'm looking to the Space Ranger Mission Manual for guidance, but it's not… giving me what I need. I feel kind of limited with what I have to work with." Buzz held his breath.
Nebula fiddled with the tips of his mustache. "Hmm. Well, I can't give you the answers, but I can give you a few tips on how you can write an outstanding report."
Buzz sat up. "You can? How?"
Just as Nebula's advice was on the tip of his tongue...
"Commander Nebula."
Hearing his name called, he turned to see Ranger Micron saluting him. The Ranger wasted no time in reporting. "I'm sorry to interrupt, sir, but Madame President wants to speak with you."
"Right now?"
"It's about Zurg."
Buzz inwardly screamed. Craters… there went one of his opportunities for inspiration.