Author's Notes: Hi ho! Happy Fourth of July! Next chapter yo!
After be transferred to a dozen different Hornets throughout the station, Bo was feeling really depressed. She just wanted to leave with Alan and get it all over with. She was finally pushed into the arms of an alien whose hands were light blue. It wore a horrific mask resembling a bug she had once seen on Earth. It dismissed the Hornet.
The alien took her arm and promptly pointed a gun at her head. Bo sighed.
"Is that really necessary? I'm kind of upset right now, and I don't think I'm going anywhere anytime soon," she said the not so fierce cowgirl as she shuffled along letting tears drift down her face.
"We've been waiting for you," the alien said. Bo could tell the voice was slightly feminine, but something on her mask distorted the voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure… There's no point in fighting anymore," Bo replied, squeezing her eyes shut. She felt dejected. She didn't know how long it would take to refuel the ship, but she was guessing it wouldn't take very long. Her friends couldn't possibly get to her now, especially since she left them in the care of a murderous lunatic. The worst feeling, however, was the sickly lump in her stomach telling her she'd never see her cowboy ever again. If Woody wasn't already dead, Bo herself would be the cause of his death and every single other living being in the universe. "You might as well let me walk myself."
"That's not the woman I met a few days ago."
Bo furrowed her eyebrows. "What? What do you mean by-"
The alien tipped up her helmet slightly. Mira Nova smiled brightly at Bo, and then quickly put the mask back on.
"But… how? Buzz and Jessie, they said with your injuries you'd be out for a month!" Bo exclaimed.
"Shh, not so loud. The technology in the teleport works well with my biological pattern. See, my planet adapted the machinery. The people on my planet can scatter their atoms enough to allow them to pass through walls and solid objects. When I remembered that, I took a chance and I woke up at Star Command a little shaken, but perfectly fine," she said happily as she continued to lead Bo along. Seeing her confused look she continued. "It's complicated. Let's just say you can't get rid of me that easily blondie."
"What are you doing here?"
"What do you think I'm doing? I'm busting you out! Stoneheart needs something with you specifically, and whatever that is, we're not going to let that happen."
"There are more of you here?" Bo asked, feeling the sickly lump in her stomach loosen.
"Just a few, but outside is a whole armada of Rangers. Stoneheart has been so preoccupied with something that he's not as cracked down on security like Zurg was. Stoneheart might have adjusted the hornets to be 100% programmed to him, but most of Zurg's other minions are still loyal to him because they have to. A chip is inserted into their suits that the Emperor has control of on his suit. He can execute any number of them in seconds. He might be locked up, but he still has control of his own troops. A spy from Star Command let us know that there have been several unexplained deaths among Zurg's minions who changed their loyalties. We don't know exactly how Zurg can tell who has gone completely traitorous on him while being contained, but however he's doing it, it's helping us a heck of a lot more. When we invade, we'll only have the hornets to deal with," Mira said quickly, pulling Bo into a room with several complicated looking panels.
"What about Buzz? Are my friends safe? I have to go back for them!" Bo said, eyes darting around the room.
"Calm down, they're fine. I went back for them first. We tried to convince them to get a medic for their injuries, but they refused. Lotso wasn't exactly…" she stopped when she saw Bo's wince. "They're waiting in the armada right now, preparing for this war."
"Was there… was there a sheriff there? A tall lanky cowboy with brown eyes?"
Mira paused for a second. "Woody Pride. Yes, he was there. Buzz and the other girl took care of him. He's alright, I promise. He made me swear on my life that I would take you back to Earth in hiding until Stoneheart was dead." The Alien princess swallowed hard. "He was so emotional Bo. I can tell he cares about you so much. If I was Stoneheart, I'd be afraid."
Bo exhaled slowly. She tried to imagine his face again, his smile, his eyes. She shook her head trying not to cry again. "You don't understand Mira. I can't leave. I have to see him again. Knowing him, he'll get himself killed. I haven't seen him for years."
"I swore on my life! I have to do this, I'm sorry." Mira tapped on one of the panels, opening a doorway into a small cabin. It was an escape pod.
"You can't. You just can't! I've waited so long, and I can't wait any longer," Bo said.
Mira sighed. "I really am sorry for this, but you can't fight me. You've got to come with me."
She made a grab for Bo's arm, but without thinking Bo shoved Mira into the pod and the doors closed immediately behind her.
Mira mouthed "You've got to be kidding me," right before Bo pressed a red button on the control panel that said LAUNCH above it.
Bo felt bad. She really did. This was the second time Mira had been sent away against her will, but there was no way in the galaxy that would prevent Bo from saving Woody. She caught her breath, and suddenly realized how selfish her decision was. If Alan found her, the whole Universe would be doomed. She bit her lip, hard. There were other escape pods. It wouldn't be that difficult to operate; she saw Mira use it.
All the sudden, the alarm went off.
"BREACH! BREACH! BREACH!" The monotonous voice said continuously.
Star Command had broken through, and the war had begun.
