Woody darted up the desk and grabbed the notepad but when he went to type in the address, he found himself locked out.
"What the-?"
"I'm sorry! They made us change the password!" cried Rex.
"Oh for crying out-!" instead of arguing further, Woody leapt into the drawer of the desk and began to rummage through it.
"I'm sure they're perfectly fine," said Dolly as the cowboy threw out various papers and pens. "They'll only be gone a few days, we can even track their package."
Woody gave no indication that he was listening but continued digging.
"Woody listen I really think you're overreacting," tried Dolly
"Oh, I'm overreacting?" he muttered dramatically. "Me? Right, right, okay."
"You're only proving my point here, potsie," sighed Dolly.
Woody took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm sorry Dolly, I should explain..."
"Yeah, try and make it a habit maybe," she said.
"You see, I thought- ah ha!" before he could finish his sentence, what he had been looking for caught his eye. High in the air he displayed two brand new batteries. "See?!"
"Yeah, what I am looking at here chief?"
"Batteries!" exclaimed Woody loudly as though it wasn't obvious. He saw Dolly still didn't understand. "We had to take them from the new remote since Bonnie doesn't have any other toys that need batteries mom hasn't bought any."
"Well, luckily the drug store is down the street," said Dolly with forced laughter. "Is that why you're freaking out? They didn't go to get batteries."
"No, but they are getting low," said Woody becoming annoyed. "And when Buzz's batteries get low, he starts acting… well."
"More deranged than usual," called Hamm from the window.
"Yes thank you," said Woody.
"Okay, so what? Buzz will act a little goofy? Tired? We can get him the new ones when he gets back," shrugged Dolly,
"No Dolly, I don't think you understand," said Woody. "If Buzz didn't change his battery before he left, it might be too late. Without a new battery, they might not return home."
"Ah yes, how dramatic," mused Pricklepants to the other toys who had now directed their attention to Woody. "The plot thickens, an additional mission. What a twist!"
"You guys remember the last time his battery got low," pleaded Woody to Andy's former toys. They looked at each other in concern, remembering the one and only time they had allowed Buzz's battery to run low. Woody was now frantically running around the room, jumping into the closet to search for a box.
"If it's so important why didn't Jessie remind him to take them?" asked Buttercup.
"Jessie's never seen him with his battery low," said Mr. Potatohead.
"He made us swore not to tell her what happens," added Slinky.
"The old space case had enough trouble around not babbling, it'd be like adding insult to injury," said Hamm.
"I think it's sweet they still have things to learn about each other," mused Mrs. Potatohead. "Who knows? Maybe he'll be fine. What harm could a few days do?"
The box arrived at the back door, just after the store had closed. Buzz had planned the overnight shipping perfectly so they could sneak into the store without anyone putting them on display or trying to sell them. When they were certain the coast was clear, Jessie cut open the tape with a paperclip she had packed and they hid the box in the alley for safekeeping when it was time to leave.
As Buzz turned around from hiding the box, the world around him suddenly transformed The faint lights from surrounding windows and street lamps began to swirl until they joined the stars, forming galaxies. comets, and constellations. The cars in the distance? Engines from passing space ships, obviously very powerful machines, Ah space: the final frontier. The bricks on the building expanded and morphed until they spun into an oh too familiar sight: Emperor Zurg's Evil Fortress.
Blast! How long had he been brainwashed? Finally he was coming to, but how long had he been out? Days? Weeks? Could be months. His memories were scattered, melting into the reality Zurg has forced him into. But he was stronger than all that! But he could use Zurg's underestimation of him to his advantage. His eyes then found Jessie. How had this poor girl gotten mixed up in this? Was she a spy? A civilian? A comrade? This must be the new partner Star Command has sent him! Regardless, he worked alone and needed to get this girl to safely, no matter how intoxicated her green eyes made him feel.
"I can't believe we're really doing this," Jessie whispered, clasping her hands together. The alley was bleak and dim, but Jessie had never seen a more inviting sight.
"I can't believe this planet has breathable air," responded Buzz faintly, unable to think of another way to greet her or introduce himself. There's no use getting too familiar, he told himself, involving someone else in his missions was a recipe for disaster. Jessie turned to her left and saw the overflowing dumpster and assumed that's what Buzz was referring to.
"Just think; Bo is somewhere on the other side of this door," she said, bursting with excitement. A rescue mission, Buzz thought to himself, Of course!
"It does look like a door, doesn't it?" he said skeptically, stepping forward. "Far too obvious; it must be a trap. There must be another route in."
"Another route? Why-?" Jessie looked up and examined the space and noticed a red blinking light in the corner of the door's frame. It was alarmed! Had they tried to open it, the alarm would've went off and blown their cover! "Good eye, Buzz!" exclaimed Jessie as she ran around to the front of the store. Buzz ran after her, concerned for her safety and intrigued. Jessie's eyes darted until she found what she as looking for. "Bingo!" she sang as she ran towards the mail slot on the shop's main entrance.
"Woah now, hold on," said Buzz stepping in front of her. "Your enthusiasm is appreciated young lady, but I'll take it from here."
Jessie gave him a playful smile as she gently pushed him out of the way. "Buzz, I thought we talked about this," she sighed. "It's dark, I know. I'm fine, I promise."
"Star Command appreciates your bravery," he went on following her. "But I can no longer allow you to risk your safety. This is official space ranger business and I outrank you. Any further interference could result in serious consequences. Now, if you like, I'd be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation for your-." But before he could finish his sentence, he found the girl had disappeared. He looked around but saw no explanation. The sound of swinging metal drew his eyes upward and he saw her looking down on him as she hung from the mail slot (or what Zurg had disguised as a mail slot)
"Want me to open the door for you?" she said smugly, placing her hands under her chin and giving him a cheeky grin.
"Ma'am, I'm afraid you don't know what you're involving yourself in-," he began to explain.
"'Ma'am?'" laughed Jessie. "Haven't heard that in ages."
"Please, do not move," he continued. "I'll be right up to retrieve you."
"Buzz, you won't fit through the slot," Jessie laughed, but he proved himself determined as he jumped up. As she stepped down, he lunged himself into the mail slot and then... got himself stuck in the mail slot. Jessie looked on, slightly amused as he struggled to free himself. "Now do you want me to open the door?"
"No need," he breathed, pushing and pulling. "A space -ugh- ranger is -err- resourceful! I'll simply use my laser to weaken the metal and slide though."
"Uh huh," said Jessie as she pushed open the door, careful to make sure this one was't alarmed. "Stop playing around Buzz, we need to get going."
Embarrassed, Buzz eased himself back and fell to the ground rather ungracefully. He didn't know why he cared that the cadet saw, but he did. He quickly hopped to his feet in a roll as though he has planned it that way the whole time. He followed the red haired cadet into the fortress, quickly becoming distressed as her casual entry. 'Rookie! Be careful!" he whispered hastily, running beside her, his laser at the ready. "The place could be rigged."
"Don't worry Buzz, I disabled it," she smiled, pointing to the keypad behind her. Buzz lowered his laser, impressed and somewhat disappointed, seeing disarming the traps as a way of redeeming himself in her eyes. Not that he cared what she thought. "Look," he began, clearing his throat as they began to walk inside. ;I don;t know what Commander Nebula told you, but I don't need a partner. But since you're here, I'd prefer it if you refereed to me as 'Captain Lightyear,' 'Captain,' or 'Sir.' Whichever you prefer."
Jessie stopped dead in her tracks as it suddenly dawned on her. Buzz wasn't joking around or talking like this to figure out how to get in the building; he has somehow been reverted to demo mode. She had only seen him like this at Sunnyside, granted now he was less deranged and more entitled, but she couldn't place where exactly this had been triggered. Had he hit his head? Had the paperclip hit him in the back on the way over? Maybe she could trigger his memory back? What had done it last time? A giant television? Surely there was a less dramatic and dangerous way. Regardless of what it was, she had to make sure his current state didn't get him into trouble. The best thing she could do was play along. Thank goodness Rex had insisted they watch the show every Saturday morning so Jessie was more than prepared.
"Actually, captain," she said, adopting a similar tone. "As an admiral, I believe I outrank you..."
"As an...?"
"Please don't interrupt," she declared, pulling him away from the door and under a chair. "This mission is critical, of the highest importance. We need to get in and get out; never be noticed."
"Affirmative," he said with a nod, looking around him. "But why has Zurg disguised his lair as this... common local bartering center?"
"He's trying to throw us off his scent, but it won't work," answered Jessie, enjoying the melodrama. "If you're not up to the task, I'm sure I can ask Star Command to find me another ranger..."
"Not necessary ma'am," he replied with confidence. "I've faced Zurg before; his mind tricks are no match for me."
"Good to hear," she said, looking around the room. "We need to find Bo before dawn, when Zurg's... minions return to the store, I mean the base."
"Copy that!" he exclaimed, springing into action rolling into the hall and then jumping to his feet with his laser ready to fire at any enemy. "I'll make sure the path is clear and we can find a higher focal point to familiarize ourselves with the perimeter."
Jessie let out a sigh of relief as she watched Buzz run ahead, inspecting every shadow he passed. "Maybe this won't be so bad," she said to herself, walking to catch up to him.
"Hopefully Jessie will know what to do once he reverts to his 'I'm a real space ranger' mode," sighed Woody as he put the finishing touches on the small box he had found. "Rex, did the shipping label print?"
"On it's way Woody!"
"Okay cowboy, I hate to sound like a broken record yet again, but don't you think they can handle this?" asked Dolly, watching him throw bubble wrap into the box. "You can't control everything. Believe me, I should know. If I could this definitely wouldn't be happening."
"Trust me Dolly, I know what I'm doing," he said, his mind made up. "We can't risk anyone getting lost."
"Well, aren't you risking yourself getting lost?" she pointed out. Her words stopped him dead in his tracks. Back in Andy's room, no one questioned him when e had a plan or spontaneously went after a toy that had been misplaced. True, Woody knew Jessie and Buzz were more than capable or taking care of themselves and one another, but his pride was too big to stop now that he had started. Things worked differently in Bonnie's room, yes, but that was one thing he wouldn't surrender. He lifted himself back up to the desk and took the slip out of the printer. "An antique shop?" he read, confused. "Bonnie isn't even in kindergarten yet, what could Buzz and Jessie be getting for her at an antique shop?"
His eyes grew wide as the realization struck him. "It couldn't be..." he whispered. He dare not ask any further questions, not wanting to raise his hopes but not wanting them dashed either. He threw the batteries into the box and hopped in after them as Bullseye sealed him in. As the darkness joined him, he shut his eyes and saw the light that was forever a part of his memories; her light.