Chapter 12: Buzz Learns the Truth
The next day, Woody was having a rough 'playtime' with Sid. "Oh, a survivor. Where's the rebel base?! TALK!" Sid shouted, tossing Woody to the floor. "I can see your will is strong." Sid said, opening the window. "Well, we have ways of making you talk." He picked up a magnifying glass, knelt down and directed the sunlight in between Woody's eyebrows, causing it to smolder. "Where are your rebel friends now?" Sid asked as the magnifying glass showed off his braces. "Sid! Your pop tarts are ready!" His mom called. "Alright!" Sid said, tossing the glass aside and running downstairs.
As soon as he was gone, Woody got up and screamed at his burning spot. He ran over to a cereal bowl and dunked his head in, extinguishing the burn in the milk. Buzz walked over with Harry and his team, pulling rubber darts off his visor and his butt. "You alright?" He asked, pulling Woody's head out of the bowl. "I'm proud of you, Sherriff. A lesser man would've talked out of such torture." Buzz said. "You call that torture?! I call it the most painful day I've ever had in my life!" Sly said. "You want pain? Try getting poisoned, your arm splinched or your leg almost torn off." Ron said. "Or tortured by the Carrows." Neville said. Woody picked up a spoon and looked at the ash mark that remained. "I sure hope this isn't permanent." He said, rubbing the spot. Buzz checked his wrist comm. "Still no word from Star Command. We're not that far from the spaceport." He said.
Just then, Woody noticed something in the spoon's reflection. "The door! It's open! We're free!" He said. "He's right! It's wide open!" Tom said. "Woody, we don't know what's out there!" Buzz argued. "I'll tell you what's-" Woody started to say, but then he screamed. The mutant toys came out and blocked their path. Woody hid behind Buzz as Harry and his friends quickly drew their weapons. "They're gonna eat us, Buzz! Do something, quick!" Woody said. "Shield your eyes!" Buzz said. Everyone quickly shielded their eyes as Buzz activated his laser, but it just blinked a light on the baby head's head. "It's not working. I recharged it before I left." Buzz said, examining his laser. "I-It should be good for-" "You idiot! You're a toy! Use your karate-chop action!" Woody said, pushing the back button on Buzz's jetpack, causing his arm to chop up and down. "Hey, hey! How are you doing that?!" Buzz asked. "Back! Back, you savages! Back!" Woody said as they circled around. "Woody, stop that!" Buzz said. "Sorry guys, but dinner's canceled." Woody said, dropping Buzz and heading out the door.
"There's no place like home! There's no place like home!" Woody repeated as he ran through the corridor. "There's no place like home!" He headed down the stairs, but stopped. Scud was sleeping on the landing in front of him. He slowly backed his way up the stairs. Suddenly, Buzz grabbed him and pulled him back, covering his mouth. "Another stunt like that, cowboy, you're gonna get us killed!" He whispered. "Don't tell me what to do!" Woody whispered. Buzz shushed him, checked on Scud and quickly ran to the other side of the corridor. He motioned for Woody and the others. Harry went first, then Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Seamus, Dean, Parvati and Padma, George, Angelina, Sly, Carmelita, Tom, Kaz, Sarah, Peyton, Maxxor, Intress, Tangath and Najarin. Finally, Woody crawled over in a hurry. Everyone checked and saw that Scud was still sleeping. But as Woody started to stand up, his pull string got hooked on the iron railing. The group started to creep away, unaware that Woody's string was being pulled longer and longer, until finally, it snapped off! "Yee-haw!" The voice box started, startling everyone. "Giddy-up partner!" Scud's eyes woke up. Woody tried to stifle the cord. "We got to get this wagon train a-moving!" Scud got up and started up the stairs.
"Split up!" Buzz called. Everyone took off, splitting up into and heading for 2 ajar doors at the end of the hall. Buzz ducked behind one, while Woody, Harry and his friends ran into another one. As they closed the door, Scud came up the stairs and went up to the door, sniffing it. Buzz zipped behind the door. Scud sensed movement, made towards the other door and started to enter. Buzz seemed done for, until Scud stopped and looked up. Sid's dad was sleeping in his recliner chair. Scud backed out and started walking away. Buzz peaked out as Scud left.
"Calling Buzz Lightyear! Come in Buzz Lightyear!" A voice called. Buzz turned to the TV in surprise. "This is Star Command! Buzz Lightyear, do you read me?" "Star Command!" Buzz said, thinking Star Command was finally calling him. He opened his wrist comm and was about to respond. "Buzz Lightyear responding. Read you loud and clear!" A boy's voice responded. Buzz was confused and walked towards the TV. "Buzz Lightyear, planet Earth needs your help!" "On the way!" "BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!" It was all a commercial for Buzz Lightyear action figures. Buzz watched in shock. "The world's greatest superhero, now the world's greatest toy! Buzz has it all! Locking wrist communicator!" Buzz looked at his wrist comm. "Karate-chop action! Pulsating laser light! Multiphrase voice simulator!" "There's a secret message in uncharted space." Buzz pressed the same button. "There's a secret message in uncharted space." His voice box repeated. "And best of all, high-pressured space wings!" "Not a flying toy." Buzz looked on in disbelief. "Get your Buzz Lightyear action figure and save a galaxy near you!" "BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!" "Available at Al's Toy Barn outlets in the Tri-County Area."
As the commercial ended, Buzz looked at his wrist comm. On the underside, it said Made in Taiman. Buzz could not believe it. Woody was telling the truth all along.
[I Will Go Sailing No More by Randy Newman]
Buzz hung his head and walked dejectedly out of the room. As he passed the stairwell, he stopped and looked up at an open window. As a bird flew past, Woody's voice echoed in his head. "You are a toy! You can't fly!" Buzz sadly bowed his head on the railing in defeat. But then, he raised his head and looked at the window with determination. He shut his wrist comm and climbed up the railing to the banister. He popped open his wings and aimed for the window. "To Infinity and Beyond!" He called. And then he leapt for the window. But instead of flying, he fell. He crashed against the stairs right down to the floor. He looked on and saw that his left arm had broken off in the crash. He just laid there on the floor in defeat, finally accepting that he couldn't fly. That he was just a toy like all the rest.
"Mom! Mom, have you seen my Sally doll?" Hannah called, stepping on Buzz's wing. "What, dear? What was that?" Her mom called. Hannah picked up Buzz and his arm. "Never mind!" She called. She looked at the arm, then back at Buzz, getting an idea for playtime.