Another couple chapters combined, minimal changes (it was mostly fine as they were). I removed the bits previously about Jesse because I was just going to have it as their own chapter so as not to disturb the flow. I have Sid and Bo's chapter coming up, and then Playtime!
I WILL do that chapter justice!
Also, you may have noticed a lack of quotes, that's simply because I had too many in these combined chapters! So, I had to pick and choose and see what fits better or simply use them in other chapters.
EDIT:: Added some accidentally skipped scenes when I took out Jesse's chapter for later. Oops?
Today a rare sight is happening at the Space Rangers headquarters:
Buzz is wearing civilian clothes with a business satchel to hold his files as he walks through the base to get to his rocket.
"Hey Buzz!" Commander Nebula yells cheerfully as he walks closer from behind. "Why are you out of uniform? Finally decided to take a day off?" He teased by slapping a hand on Buzz's shoulder.
Buzz merely chuckled as they continued walking.
"I have been repeated told about the significant vacation time I've accumulated over the years so I've-
"A vacation! About time!" He laughed good naturedly. "What are you gonna do?"
Stopping at the hangar doors, Buzz grew quiet a moment as the most gentle smile Commander Nebula has ever seen grace Buzz's face.
"Lightyear?"
"I recently discovered some old friends I haven't seen in years are nearby. I uh... I don't know if they remember me. Well, outside of what's on the news, anyway." He chuckled nervously. Gulping, Buzz continued. "It's been years, Sir. Um... I-I don't..." Hand on the still closed door, he thumped his forehead against it. "I'm scared sir."
"Scared?! Why would you be scared? Talk to me son."
"What if they really don't remember me? What if they do and all they see is the hero?" (And not the toy?) "I really really want them to remember me sir."
"Of course they will!" Grabbing the closest shoulder and turning him, Nebula pulled Buzz into a hug. "I said it before and I'll say it again. I think of you like my own son, Buzz. I'll always be here for you. Now, what you just told me is a surprise. A pleasant surprise! You have friends outside of your coworkers and random dignitaries or vigilantes. Normal everyday people, right?" Buzz shrugged and nodded against his shoulder. "Would it help if I tagged along?"
"What?! But-!" Pulling back to look at him. Nebula merely grabbed both his shoulders and leaned forward to look Buzz in the eyes.
"But nothing! You need this Buzz! Y'hear me?! You need people outside all this! " He briefly waved a hand gesturing to their surroundings, before putting his hand back. "You need this, son. Now, what is your plan here? Just pop in and say hi?"
"W-well actually, um... One of them is a recently promoted sheriff." Cheeks tinting pink, remembering what he looked like standing a few feet away at the toy stand. "Uh.. Woodrow Pride. But we used to call him Woody."
"Woody eh? Do I detect a story with this one?" Nebula teased. Inwardly, he thought back to Buzz's investigation. Were they his friends? Recently discovered? Maybe this was Buzz's way to catch up?
Buzz turned crimson. "Wh-what no! There's no-!"
"Then why are you blushing?"
Buzz spluttered, Nebula guffawed.
"Anyway~!" Buzz desperately tried to get back on track. "When I bumped into him at the festival, I'm not quite sure if he actually remembers me or not. So I figured I'd play it safe and try to bring up a recent case of a pair of women we both used to know."
"Oh?"
"Indeed, if nothing else, it's a conversation starter and I'll learn more about them either way." He grew quiet in his embarrassment.
"Buzz..." Nebula calmed and sighed. Buzz looked up shyly.
"What would you do... If they don't... remember you?"
Nebula had to ask. If nothing else, then to prepare him if that was the case.
2 Hours, a persistent desk spewing paperwork, and an excuse for a 'family emergency' later.
Commander Nebula and Buzz sat in a rocket on their way to Woody's planet. Buzz was clutching that bag like his life depended on it while Nebula took the wheel.
Glancing at the closest thing he has to a son, Nebula mentally prayed. Since it was a long flight, here's to hoping Buzz will open up about what happened.
Nebula doesn't know what would happen to Buzz at the end of this trip. But come heaven and Earth, Nebula will be there for him, no matter what.
~/~
At the sheriff's station, Woody was finishing organizing his office. The previous Sheriff left a mess that BADLY needed re-organizing. When the other officers noticed his different approach to things, let alone how he easily took charge and listened to them, they cheered. They all happily, and gratefully, helped reorganize everything in such a way that was significantly easier to find things, etc.
With a much higher morale and updated -well, everything really- office, things were looking up.
Sitting in his chair in his separate office, he heard his phone ring.
"Hello? Jessie?! Hey what's wrong?"
~/~
Nebula P.O.V.
The ride up in the Rocket was tense. But not in a bad way..? What I mean is, Buzz was a ball of nerves seeing his old friend again.
It took gentle coaxing, but I did manage to get him to talk a little. I learned more in the last hour ride than the many years that I've known him!
Buzz said he used to babysit a boy named Andy. A little kid full of imagination. Buzz told me Andy had an old cowboy doll that he used to play with. It was his favorite.
Nebula saw Buzz chuckle a bit. But also looked extremely guilty about something.
Continuing he said the doll used to belong to Woody. They met when Andy got a Space Ranger doll for his birthday and all but forgot about the doll.
Buzz was silent for a minute or so at that point.
Andy's mom asked him if he wanted the old doll since Andy had plenty at that point. Not thinking much of it, he also asked where they got it. She said a young man down the road gave it to them.
So Buzz tried to call Woody up to ask him if he wanted the old doll back before he decided anything. No answer.
On a day Buzz actually had off, he found Woody taking his turn to babysit. Deciding to join in, mainly to have the chance to give back the doll, he made his way over.
Buzz recalled how upset he was over the quick change in Andy's room. Gone were the wild west posters and toys. Replaced, now, with Space Ranger propaganda and action figures. While Andy was playing upstairs, Buzz took the chance to talk to him.
Woody had that doll for many years, passed down through his family. Even named it 'Woody' after his own name. He was tired of seeing the old doll collecting dust so let Andy play with it so it wasn't just for display anymore. It made him happy to see someone playing with it for a change. He was disappointed again to see the doll go back on the shelf back home.
Buzz held a smile as he recalled them debating that night after giving Andy his dinner and leaving one of his ranger action figures on the table. Woodrow held 'Woody' and Buzz held the Ranger. They spent hours that night playfully debating which toy was cooler.
Babysitting Andy at that point became a partnership and a rivalry of sorts. Neither budged on which toy was better. Or who would win in a fight: An old-world Cowboy or a future-world Space Ranger?
Nebula laughed loudly at that mental image.
The last time Buzz saw him, they were both on the shuttle to a space port that went to separate divisions. Buzz going to the Space Ranger Academy, Woody to Law Enforcement.
Nebula noticed that Buzz's face couldn't decide on which emotion to show.
But a small smile won in the end.
Nebula was in a better mood as they walked to the entrance. A few chuckles kept escaping him at the continued mental images of a much younger Buzz and a mystery boy debating which toy was better.
Buzz half-heartedly rolled his eyes and playfully shoved Nebula, only for the latter to laugh louder.
It had the bonus of cheering up the younger man too. Always a plus in his books.
Now getting a good look at the place, it looked like it just finished renovating. Nebula himself visited here once. It should have been condemned then! But this new Sheriff went over the ledgers and got back all the stolen embezzled money and fixed the place up.
Color him impressed! The exterior was much more welcoming and the graffiti was gone as well as all the junk littered the lawn. The docks for the rockets were fixed and up to date. All in all, way better than it was. He let out a long whistle.
Now entering the place, he sees it way more open, better lighting, the desks replaced and the computers updated. According to the directory, it had much clearer layout and actually legible directions.
~/~
Woody's POV
Woody spent the next 10 minutes or so, trying to calm down the former doll. After all, Woody can relate. Seeing Andy again...
Eventually he bid her goodbye after finally calming her down and a promise to come by after work to talk more about this.
Sighing, he soon stepped out of his office to get his mind off things. A group of officers are standing before the outside window. Bored, he walked over.
"What's the matter fella's?"
"Not much boss!" Officer Jones chirped in. He was a skinny fellow, and also as new as Woody. Except, Jones just got hired, as in, his first job out of the academy. (He never stood a chance against his seniors' antics...) "Just a Space Ranger has just landed. I'm told we almost never get them in this neck of the woods, though."
Stepping aside, so Woody can see better. They gasped.
"Well boys and girls! Looks like we got a pair of celebrities here!" Officer Davidson bellowed. An older fellow with a balding head and short beard. He's very lively and helped Woody in keeping morale high and known for getting shit done and done right the first time. Jones is currently Job shadowing him.
Lo and behold, Woody spotted Buzz and some other older gentleman making their way to the station's entrance.
Woody then proceeded to sit atop a nearby desk after grabbing some coffee to calm his nerves before Buzz and his friend walked in the station. After being human for months, he's gone without Buzz even hinting he might remember or be the same. Now twice in a month, he sees the Space Ranger. The festival showed promise, but he didn't want to get his hopes up.
Maybe it was a trick of the light, but he could swear he saw a flush to his friends cheeks.
Woody is honestly unsure how to feel about that.
For his entire life, he was a toy to a child. Yes, he acknowledges that as he was modeled after a grown man, his mind was more mature than the preschool toys. More grown up. And even as a toy, he remembers Bo Peep. Er… Betty here. He remembers a sort of romantic relationship with her, but he's not sure what was his feelings, or a by-product of the kind of toy he was originally designed off of.
When he first woke up in this now-real body. He spent the first week looking back over his life as a toy.
Because of Jessie, he learned about Woody's Roundup . Watching all those episodes, he got a general idea on what his personality was based on.
The character 'Woody' was a sheriff. He acknowledges, yes, that it was a kid show; but still. A sheriff nonetheless. He went around solving silly simple problems and rescuing Stinky Pete from his woes. He was a problem solver and a sort of caregiver. Even in the show, they looked to him for guidance. In one of the episodes, there was a woman in the Saloon, his show-self often flirted with her or vice versa. The similarities in appearance with Bo were striking. Was that why he flirted with her, because of their resemblance? Were those feelings an illusion? An echo of his perceived personality or 'memories'? That show was made in the 1950's, but was based on an even older era.
Is he simply a man out of time?
And if so, is that why Buzz's arrival as a toy in Andy's room shook him so much? A space ranger from a show set in the future, when he's still stuck in the past.
Now, after all these years, getting accustomed to the modern age and being content as a toy. Andy made him feel and experience the here and now. Buzz made him actually open his eyes and look towards the future.
He's excited actually.
And then thinking back to Buzz at the festival. Woody knows without a doubt, whatever he feels for Buzz…
Falling for a man was frowned upon in the wild west. Even the more recent modern age until it was finally accepted. In the show, he fell for the woman in the Saloon because it was expected. In Andy's room he fell for Bo, because it was an unconscious decision from very old-fashioned beliefs and expectations.
BECAUSE of his pre programmed beliefs and expectations to fall for women…
These feelings for Buzz are entirely his own.
The Cowboys in the past didn't fall for other men.
But, he can picture himself falling for a spaceman in the future.
His heart is galloping in his chest. He wonders though, what Buzz's heart sounds like if he leans in to listen. Would it be galloping horses? Or the roar of a rocket?
Sheriff Woodrow Pride waited patiently, coffee in hand, leaning against a desk near the entrance.
"Okay fella's, back to work. Wouldn't want them to see us slacking off would ya?"
The others groaned good naturedly and went back to their own desks. All clearly eavesdropping to comical levels, that the former toy silently snickered at their antics. He gestured for them to tone it down just in time for the door's bell to ring that they had arrived.
Forky: Woody, somebody's whispering in your ear. (whispering loudly) Everything's gonna to be okay.
Normal POV
The duo approached a gentleman in a large, faded hat who walked up to them. Buzz double-takes. Nebula recognizes him right away.
"Welcome fella's. Would you like any help?"
"Actually yes!" Nebula chimed in. "We're looking for a Woodrow Pride. I'm told he's the new Sheriff?"
Chuckling, "That would be me actually." Sipping his coffee. "How can I help you gentleman." Woodrow calmly glanced at Buzz.
"Well I'll be! Nice to make your acquaintance. I'm Commander Nebula and this here is Buzz Lightyear." Shaking each other's hands.
Buzz continued to look dazed. Blinking rapidly at his name, mentally shaking himself. "Yes! I'm uh.. Buzz. Buzz Lightyear." Reaching out. Completely disarmed at Woodrow's gentle smile.
Nebula just grinned wider. Oh, he's definitely found new teasing material.
Glancing at the sheriff, his uniform hid much of his physique, so he can only accurately judge his face. From what little is shown, Woodrow is objectively handsome. Nebula might not swing that way, but he has enough female coworkers spreading gossip around HQ to figure out the basics of what's attractive in the male form.
He looks young, not quite middle age yet since he's a few years older than Buzz. Brown hair with a red tint to it in the light, light brown eyes. Laugh lines around his smile indicate a cheerful personality, but the stress lines in his forehead state otherwise. But it comes with the territory of this line of work.
"So what can I do for you fellas?"
"We'd like your help in a case we had last week concerning Bazooka Jane and Betty Peep."
Woodrow blinked. And blinked again. Then he threw his head back and laughed. Startled, the two stepped back.
"Ha ha. Sorry. Yeah, I know those two and I know the case you speak of. Why don't you join me in my office and we'll speak more there." Still chuckling, he gestured for them to follow.
Passing the coffee station, he offered them some. Taking a moment to get their own mugs, they continued to the Sheriff's office.
"Hey boss!" Officer Jones shouted over from his desk near the far wall. "Don't forget! It starts in an hour and it takes half to get there!" The others grinned or laughed.
The two Rangers stood confused.
"Don't worry! This won't take long. Who knows they might join us?" Woodrow grinned.
"Do you think Jessie might be there?!" You could practically see the hearts in his eyes.
Shaking his head in fond exasperation, "Not this time fella's she called me earlier and is skipping today."
"Aww!"
The fellow officers whistled and teasingly offered condolence.
"So who drew the short straw this time?" He asked. About half the hands went up grudgingly with quite a few grumbles, others cheered or high-fived. "Those who stay get drinks from Slinks on me this weekend."
"What!?" "Oh, come on!" "Yes!"
Shaking his head, the Sheriff continued to his office. Bewildered, the two Rangers warily followed.
Finally making it to his office, the duo looked around while Woodrow sat in his chair. The room was small compared to what they usually see. Small but homey. There was a wild west theme going on, and photos on the walls. Buzz slowed as he walked past.
"That's Slink." Woodrow spoke up. Nebula followed Buzz's gaze.
It was a photo of Slink manning the bar in his motel. Jessie and Woodrow roughhousing on the opposite side of the photo. Buzz chuckled.
"The case, fella's?"
"Right!" Nebula started, Buzz startled, and Woodrow chuckled.
"So clearly you know the woman in question." Nebula gestured a thumb in the direction of the photo.
"That is correct. She's actually my sister."
"I see. Then maybe you can shed some light on this for us then. What can you tell us about her, and what you can disclose about the kidnapping of Betty 'Bo' Peep." Taking a seat and turning professional. Buzz hesitated by the photo, then took a seat as well.
"Let's see… Her real name is Jessica Jane Pride. Betty Peep, or Bo to her friends, was my ex-fiancé but we mutually broke it off due to unusual circumstances but it was left with us more as friends than anything else. And this incident wasn't actually a kidnapping."
"Ya lost me son. Care to elaborate?"
"Since we're short on time today, why don't we just focus on the case and the rest later?" The Commander nodded. "Very well. Ya see, fellas; we have this event that goes on every other week or so. To put it simply, it is fake robberies and kidnappings." Woodrow grinned.
"Explain." Buzz spoke up for the first time. Nebula noted the look in Buzz's eyes that he might have a clue as to what the sheriff means.
Gesturing to the photos they stood up to stand before them.
"My friends here" While pointing to each photo as he goes. "Slink." The photo from before. "The Potatoheads, they own the bank in question". An older couple nearing their 50's. The man in an expensive suit, thick mustache and Bowler hat, the Mrs. In a large white sun hat with a flower on it and a lovely sundress stood before a grand re-opening ceremony to the entrance of said bank. "Rex" An interesting fellow dressed in all green with a childlike personality. He had an arm draped over Slink as he waved wildly to the camera. "And" snickering "The Evil ." Buzz even grinned at that. was a heavyset fellow with a balding blonde head with his own bowler hat, and wore a suit of a light red, almost pink color, with a red vest and black gloves and shoes. stood with with what looks like a comical glare-down with Jessie cheering them on in the background.
"Every other week or so we stage fake robberies or hostage situations so the locals are prepared for the real deal when an actual situation arises. Before I took office, this town went through rough times. My pal Rex suggested this to better help the locals defend themselves better. As of 5 months ago since we started this, roughly half of the home burglaries, store robberies and attempted kidnapping dropped a third of what the records showed the previous years." Woodrow stated with pride.
The Rangers stared impressed. The sheriff puffed up with pride.
"So the case you're thinking of was just another mock situation that the manager was told of in advance. Betty didn't like how weak the security was so asked Jessie to open their eyes so to speak. The manager ended up firing more than half the security personnel and a few more regular employees when it was shown most either stepped aside, ignored Betty's…" He put up finger quotes "cries for help." Dropping his hands to cross them instead in a huff. "They just let it happen! Some even recorded it! None called the station." He growled.
The duo stood shocked. Mind whirling with new information.
"So, as you can see. Rex's idea ended up both helping the locals as well as open their eyes."
Jones giddily knocked on the open door. "It's time to go if we want to be there on time!" The sheriff waved him off and they were left alone again.
"So.." Buzz started this time. "Would that so-called event out there..?"
"Be another mock event? Yes." Walking to the door. Looking back with a grin. "Care to join in?"
Nebula laughed Buzz looked at Woody and it was like they had a silent conversation. Nodding Buzz walked up to join him.
"Lead the way, partner." Woody grinned and slung an arm around him. Speed walking back down the hall he cheerfully shouted. "Get ready boys and girls! It's playtime!"
~/~
Nebula POV
As Woody led the duo out to the docks again, Nebula kept his eyes wide open between Buzz and the Sheriff.
Somethings not right.
Buzz claims the two knew each other, but the other man gave no hint of recognition. But the banter between the two spoke otherwise.
Buzz wasn't in any of the photos on the wall.
One of them is lying.
His gut is screaming Buzz, but it also says that he's missing a few -dozen- pieces to the puzzle.
As he walks, he sees the other officers participating excitedly get into unassuming ships. Possibly for the 'Mock Scenario' Woodrow mentioned.
The chipper fellow, Jones? He's not so sneakily making his way to a larger ship that has seen better days. The one they're being led to. He starts whisperin'' to a hyper fellow in green, covered in gear. The other nods with a sly grin causing Jones to blush. The green man shoos him off as Jones sulks back inside.
The sheriff just has his hands on his hips and chuckles at the poor mans' woes.
"Woody! We're good to go!" As they approached, the green man looked familiar.
"I hear you Rex!" Ah! The man from the photo.
Buzz startles and looks at Rex curiously before nodding, as if whatever he's thinking about him made sense or something.
Opening the hatch, Woody indulges Rex about whatever mechanical repairs he was working on, even whipping out a large book of some kind and burying his nose in it.
And then, Rex notices Buzz.
The chatter stops.
Woody, now sitting in the pilot's seat, looks back at the sudden silence.
"Rex?"
"W-Woody? Who's your friend?" Nebula squinted at the desperate tone in that question.
Buzz shakes his head and holds out his hand with a gentle smile. "Names' Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. It's nice to meet you Rex." And now Buzz is acting strange.
It's as if entire conversations are spoken through telepathy or somethin'!
Behind them, he sees Woody look back ahead, starting the ship, but obviously listening.
With jerky hesitance, Rex takes Buzz's hand and marvels at it. "My name's Rex… I'm Woody's head engineer and co-pilot." He mumbles distractedly.
This isn't hero worship. This isn't a celebrity crush.
Rex is staring, like he's not even sure Buzz is real!
"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Rex." Buzz grips Rex's hand as if in understanding and pulls away. "Shall we?" Buzz gestures to Woody.
"Yes! Right!" He startles and rushes down to the engine room. "Let's get this show on the road!"
Buzz just chuckles while shaking his head in fondness.
Then he jumps as if remembering I was there!
"Buzz? Wha-?" I whisper, baffled over the whole interaction!
"Later. I'll explain later." He looks back to the duo with an almost vulnerable expression. "Please, sir."
Sighing, I held his gaze for a moment. "I'll hold you to that."
By the time they sit down, Rex is still twitchy, but otherwise they were good to go. Buzz sat in the copilots' chair next to Woody
Buzz POV
Meeting Rex was… interesting. I'm not even surprised by his career choice. Ha! Even seeing his face buried in the ship's manual was as familiar as him reading a strategy guide to a videogame!
Still…
He recognized me. In the same fashion that Woody did at the festival.
But neither are talking.
Is it because of Nebula? Would they talk if he wasn't here?
Either way, I'm glad he's here. If Nebula is seeing all this too, it means I'm not paranoid. I'm not dreaming.
I'm not dreaming.
We really did all wake up here.
Is this… a second chance? But why here? Why that old cartoon I was based off of? Or is it because of that? As toys, a vast majority of us were not even close to humanoid looking! As 'Aliens'... we blend right in.
But that begs the question: The show's over. The last episode was a while ago. Yet life here moves ever on. I have no idea what to do now!
Woody moves in the corner of my eye, and I startle at the sight of him.
Why? For a sight I didn't even realize I was waiting for.
Seeing Woody at ease in a rocket ship beside me as the ship leaves the atmosphere.
Reach for the sky indeed.
And then the sunset fades as stars make their appearance. Fading the clouds and sunlight away for starlight with the lights in the ship as subtle highlights.
He's here…
We're here!
I literally dreamed about this as a toy!
Going on actual space adventures with Woody as my partner.
None of those dreams compared to the real deal of seeing Woody actually flying the ship as if he was raised here.
I could only stare in awe and pray the others wouldn't notice.
Mentally shaking myself, I thought back to our adjective.
Somehow, Woody was able to give… playtime… real world applications and used it to help the locals.
He hasn't changed at all.
I'm actually looking forward to this! I don't even remember the last time I had fun!
If only Andy-!
Right.
I'm not a toy anymore.
So… like one of our adventures then?
No, no, Woody specifically said Playtime .
Hmmm…
I guess I should just play it by ear and trust Woody knows what he's doing.
Looking back up, I eventually just let myself memorize him at the helm. Who knows when we'll do this again.
A burst of longing crept its way in my heart and I don't have the courage to stamp it down.