"Buzz, have you noticed how Zurg hasn't been attracting your attention or Star Command's for the last four months?"
"Licking his wounds, Booster, after that last humiliating defeat." Was the older man's reply.
There was a Star Command competition set in the training deck with a large crowd in front of the window observing the game. There were several teams not participating observing the various teams winning or losing one by one with Buzz at the forefront and his arms were folded against his chest. It was a ordinary peaceful event held at Star Command without chaos that Zurg would normally wreck with the aid of Warp Darkmatter.
"It wasn't that humiliating," Mira said, fondly.
"He was very distracted watching another Livestream multitasking trying to conquer La-Kozoho." XR reminded the Tangean Space Ranger.
"It's best that we don't get worked up over what he could be doing and do Ranger business." Buzz added.
"But . . ." Booster asked, gently. "isn't that really worrisome?"
"This happens often during my service," Buzz said.
"Really?" Booster asked, surprised.
"Uh huh." Buzz added, smugly. "He's got another evil special interest in some poor quadrant."
"That poor quadrant," Booster shook his head.
"He appears and things go back to the way they were." Buzz said. "I call it our hiatus."
"Often?" Mira asked, curious.
"It happens once every four years, Mira." Then the space ranger shrugged. "He's off doing who knows what at a place that can't ask for help." Buzz grimaced before adding. "Lots of missing blanks."
"If he's currently away focused on other matters. . ." Mira started to say, waiting for Buzz to finish the thought, only he didn't. "Doesn't that mean we can do some sleuthing around?"
"Not without probable cause." Buzz replied.
Mira and Booster exchanged a glance as the Space Ranger joined the game of tennis.
It was late that night, Nana stared at her communication device. Months had passed since the last time that she had seen him during a Saturday cook out featuring his grandparents, Star Command, and people that she had known, and some that looked suspiciously like hornets. They posed little harm during the parties but made excellent babysitters during the party when the children were playing a game of Chase The Ranger.
Warp had been doing well, better, than how he had entered her life, looking he were deep in the well of grief. She remembered, how he had that look where he were ready to open up, scared, just a little boy who had came back after something tragic had occurred and had been part of the event who needed a hug more than anything. She hadn't heard his voice in what felt eons, almost forgetting about it, her plans to introduce Buzz's children was stalled, Star Command was stalling with the excuse that he were on shore leave on a planet to decompress for the next few months.
"Nana Lightyear to Warp Darkmatter."
She withdrew her hand from the console, hand trembling.
"Warp. . . please." Nana plead. "Call me back."
She couldn't be losing him, too.
Zurg had lost for the eighty-fifth time this year to Team Darkmatter. They dragged against his ire, his wrath, his entertainment, and it felt different as it had before. Zurg reflected, Ranger Warp Darkmatter was on shore leave. That meant he were hard to find, hard to pin down, the epitome of a personal day in contrast to Buzz Lightyear who could be easily pinned down through a series of circumstances. Those days of finding his favorite nemesis incredibly easy were over, a harsh reminder.
Brainpod 11 approached the contemplating emperor then tugged him by the cape.
"Can't you see that I'm busy being evil and moody?" Zurg asked.
"Operation X, you authorized it."
"Operation X!" The emperor exclaimed, excited, then it faded. "But that, that was, years ago." Zurg glared upon the brainpod. "Your progress has been delayed." His mood darkened looming over the brainpod with his arms folded, judging them. "State it."
"The other's have had such interesting evil projects that mine paled in comparison!" Brainpod 11 exclaimed.
"Is it evil?" Zurg asked.
"Very evil." Brainpod 11 confirmed.
"Bring me it." Zurg requested. "Or, if it's not evil enough, you are getting publicly executed."
Brainpod 11 departed then returned with a large cage structure covered by a sheet.
"What's in it? A cage full of a exotic evil beast that you made? A evil phoenix."
"Allow me to explain, Evil Emperor Zurg-"
The sheet flew off then covered the emperor.
"Must comfort Evil Emperor Zurg. Must rest. Must stand still, must soak in the comfort."
A couple of the grubs came out of the darkness looking at the looming figure.
"Uh, that was unexpected." one of the grubs commented.
"It is serving it's purpose." Brainpod 11 said.
"By wrapping itself around him?" another member of the grubs commented.
"The shape stealer is a creature that attempts to provide emotional security for the evil emperor: his entertainment, his pet, his beloved friend."
"That. . ." The second grub proceeded to say. "is a emotional support animal."
"And his toys aren't?" Brainpod 11 said. "It is nice to hear him laugh often playing with his Team Lightyear fighting against himself, his toy cowboy Woody, and Darkmatter." Brainpod 11 was talking as a relaxed sigh came from the emperor. "No arguments can be made against the impact that they have done for his well being."
"Those are when he wants to play." The grub commented then scowled facing toward the brainpod. "This!" the grub gestured toward the emperor. "This is just a heavy and cold blanket on him."
"It . . ." the brainpod shifted toward the standing still emperor. "Would have made a excellent project to attempt killing Buzz Lightyear with."
It was time to make his escape, he had done some quick accessing in the defense grid of the emperor and aimed it all at the tower. He couldn't take down the version that he knew but there was ample opportunity to defeat the emperor once and for all for this Buzz Lightyear. It was his debt that had to be repaid. He turned on the timer then picked up the box, pressed another button that sent a message to the brainpods featuring a selectively edited clip of Zurg declaring they were free to go and not ask any questions. With that all wrapped up, the Space Ranger sent a command to his suit to be the first to explode. It would take too long getting into the suit itself putting it on piece by piece.
Star Command technology wasn't the kind that had to be handed over easily especially when it pertained to technology that this world didn't have. With stealth, he proceeded to make his escape, until hearing the sound of footsteps. He paused in his tracks then picked up a pipe, he was going to escape, he were going to go return home, and all was going to be well after dealing with the largest headache of all. He paused in his tracks, glaring brainpods, one of them welding a needle, then stepped back. Craters!
"There you are!"
"Let's test this rock objectification mineral upon him."
"Good idea, Brainpod 11!"
Warp was stabbed in the thigh by the needle then it were withdrawn as he were set down to his knee.
"Let's go, we're free to go!"
"Hey!"
"Sorry, we're unemployed!"
"You're not!"
"Came straight from the Emperor himself!"
"Buh-bye!"
Warp leaned against the frame of the wall feeling pain in his cells then shoved down the pain by regaining his balance. He closed his fists, then set forth down the passage way, the tower trembling beneath his feet with each step. He collided against a figure then landed on his back with a yelp.
"Watch where you're-Mira?"
"Ah HA!" Mira pointed back at him. "Zurg is planning something nefarious!"
"Watch it, Darkmatter!" Booster said as he glared back at him. "We're sleuthing."
"Nah uh, you're not supposed to be here." He stepped back, distraught, as the ground trembled beneath him. "I got to be dreaming!"
"I thought I was dreaming the day you said you were Emperor Zurg's number one agent," Booster said.
"You betrayed Buzz Lightyear," Mira added, her arms folded, glaring.
"Stabbed him in the back," Booster stepped forward with anger in his voice. "faking your death, throwing away your freedom." The giant squinted back at the older man. "I bet you didn't pay attention when the drones were firing at him, just standing there, waiting to be caught in a beam, watching him in chaos, and possibly die!"
"WEREN'T YOU?" Mira shouted.
He was busy considering the possibility of them being clones, androids, the likeness, was incredible. There is a very good probability that he knows that I've been here all along. Their characterizations were different, their eyes mere thorns, distrust, and they looked young. He had forgotten how young they were when the legend had died in his watch. His death matured Star Command, changed it from the inside out, bringing something beautiful to the surface called change. The accusation stung, hurt, hearing a Booster say that. It was what he always believed. It hit different coming from someone else. Someone he well liked, trusted, and saw a fine Ranger in.
And then he were back there, firing, at the moon of doom. Being carried away, searching for Buzz, finding him, pinned. The rest of the memories were painful to recall as he squeezed his eyes shut, remaining still in his tracks. He looked up toward the direction of the rookies, they knew his secret, programmed, likely. Then he smiled, opening his eyes, opting instead not to give what the emperor wanted and started to embrace the younger man that had lead Buzz Lightyear to the grave.
"Chaos is my middle name, son." Warp said, earning surprise from the very real rookie.
There was a loud boom from above destroying the escape pod above them.
"What was that!" Booster exclaimed.
Another boom from above as Warp found the strength to start running.
"His escape pod!" Mira announced.
"Mira, he has both arms!" Booster announced, abruptly, his eyes staring at the Space Ranger's lack of a large metal arm.
The Ranger ran ahead of them as the windows behind him were shattered, Mira and Booster proceeded to run after him, Booster looking over his shoulder, then turned on his rockets, flying off taking Mira with him. Warp was left behind by the duo then knocked down to his knees by the blast then looked over in the direction of the oncoming blast and struck his chest, repeatedly, for a emergency launch, feeling nothing. Craters!
Warp got up to his feet then made a last ditch effort to run down the corridor heading for the exit with the box against his chest. A lone blast one knocked Warp down to his feet throwing him against the wall with a cry. Within a few short moments notice, he slumped on the floor, his body aching. His weight contrasting against floor became noted as his bodily weight was changing. The floor broke around him then he screamed once it give out.
It was falling beneath him, falling, through several levels shielding his head with his free hand. Finally it paused, the sounds of ringing lingered in the air. Warp lifted himself up with fire around him, grubs running, the collection of groaning, then felt a significant weight on his back. His eyes opened as he looked toward his hand that was becoming brown and gray as granite. All the soreness in his frame was gone and all he could feel was the generous feeling of not being exactly a mortal form. He struggled to slide out as among the smoke he saw a giant figure approach him.
"You're not our Darkmatter." was Booster's voice.
"And Zurg has grubs who make machines, kinda makes it hard to believe anyone is a person here." Warp said.
"He's done that a few times to us." Booster said, fondly, then chuckled. "Can't get the androids right."
"You're clearly not Booster of this universe." Warp told the giant who folded his arms with a glare. "Because A; Buzz would be here. B; so would XR. C; and the forty-two."
"Did you hack into the defense grid?" Booster asked.
"I used to be his mole, don't forget that." Warp said as he smirked. "You, really, like, need to go."
"Not without you." Booster began to toss the debris off the Space Ranger with rapid speed.
"Are you crazy?" Warp shouted, as he saw Mira's figure flying overhead, her wrist laser aiming at him, looking back and forth. "There's going to be another shot in less than five minutes!"
"Then I guess I'll have to do this very quickly getting off what can be taken." Booster paused, briefly, shifting toward the Space Ranger with a glare. "Buzz says we don't leave a Space Ranger behind!"
Warp grimaced as he looked toward the direction of where the shot was coming then Booster came over and proceeded to pick him up.
"Send it to a hole near the edge of the Alpha Quadrant, and mail it to NANA LIGHTYEAR!" Warp smacked the red button then shoved the large box into Booster's hand. "AND I SAID, GO!"
Warp watched the rookie fly away, screaming.
"DAAAARRKKKKKKKKMAAAAAATTTEEEEEEEEEER!" Booster screamed as he shrunk before Warp's eyes.
Warp looked up toward the oncoming blast with a smirk, this time, ready to face what the future had in store with having possibly faked his death successfully, good or bad, whoever woke him up. He turned back in the direction that the younger Space Ranger had gone.
"To infinity and beyond, huh, Buzz?" Warp said, fondly, having reached infinity. "That's what it feels."
He froze, remain seated in place, facing in the direction of Booster, smirking, who was flying back toward him, just as Buzz would have done, as the last blast struck the ruins of the tower.
It felt nice, forgiving himself, and all.
A nice wholesome feeling from the heart.