"Whatta mess! Craters! I didn't know that I look like some magma-monsta! Thiz place gets funnier all the time!" Warp approached Zurg with rapid steps. Zurg was just helping Miss Dashwood to stand up.
"I agree with you in that! But I must say that this day has eventually been a great success! This Miss Dashwood here, as you surely heard, is Andy's toy now."
"Whee… Izn't she tha gal I have heard that ya…"
"Warp! Watch your words… Come for a little walk with
me, I must speak to you."
Miss Dashwood stared surprised after them. She wondered Zurg's new, odd behavior –and most of all his new appearance. She found it quite hard to get used to them. She had changed only a few words with him after last night but still could sense that something between them had changed. Their discussion had namely been difficult. Now she saw him put the helmet back on. Without self noticing it, she sighed.
Marianne started to walk about the room. Soon she got some other things to her mind. She was Andy's toy! Could it be real? How excellent! How brilliant! Her joy was overflowing. She felt light as a feather as she jumped across some crayons. Katie and Jessie ran to her.
"Yeeeeee-hhaaaaaaaa! Ya'r Andy's! You are part of our family now!"
"Yea, whaddaya think of that?"
"Really, I don't know how to take this! I am so happy!"
Miss Dashwood danced around on the parquet. Katie pointed out also another joyful sake: they had just got rid of that icky Romy –figure.
"She leaves with Annabelle, heaven knows how soon! But I will not shake hands with her!" Jessie was quite determined.
"I will not mind shaking hands with her at all! But I guess she will not do that with me!" Marianne laughed. Suddenly she heard a too-familiar and too-horrible voice behind her: Mira Nova. Her smile faded immediately.
"Good day, the respectable Queen of Alderaan. If your highness allows, I have some delicate matter to discuss with you. Captain Nebula there is…"
"How many times I have to convince you that I am not the Queen of Alderaan, but an ordinary noble lady from Sussex, England. My former owner moved here in America when she was three years old, so you might as well consider me an American. But I am not the Queen of any of the stupid planets you might know."
Mira was silent; she didn't get the point at all.
"Did you hear what I just said, Vichy Novelle? I do not want to discuss with you nor with that Captain Nebula about anything. Leave me alone."
"But your loveliness!", Mira Nova gave a bland smile, "Cannot you see how important this subject is to us all? The marital union of you and Captain Nebula would…"
"What!?"
"And perhaps you are not aware that evil Emperor Zurg has…"
"Stop it right there! What are you talking about? I have not the slightest intention to even chat with that foolish Nebula –let alone to marry him! How insane! Emperor Zurg is the man that… I… em… He is my dearest friend and will protect me from you if necessary. So go away, you are spoiling the so far happiest moment of my life!"
Miss Marianne Dashwood was crimson red, half because of the anger and the other half because of her slippery words. She was abashed and out of her mind, very excited about all the happenings and wanted to be alone. However, Mira didn't leave her in peace:
"Oh my Wam! The dark side of the Force has gotten you! I must immediately call for help and…"
Right then, just when Mira started to yell to the sticker, Miss Dashwood noticed Warp and Zurg nearby and gesticulated them to the place. As they approached, Mira's legs went jelly for fear and she couldn't run away. Marianne's legs went also jelly, but because of a different reason: Zurg was without his helmet again. Now that the two men were present, Marianne could hear Mira's teeth rattle. Warp took his most hideous grin on his face and sneered at Miss Nova:
"Boo!"
The poor Blue Lagoon fainted flat. Zurg gave a chest-tone laugh to which Miss Dashwood reacted by freezing her breathing. She felt something she could not recognize. Just then Woody came to them and asked if they should continue the interrupted meeting.
"Yes, indeed! I didn't finish yet." Miss Dashwood went first and the others –excluding Mira- followed her.
Miss Dashwood ensured the listeners that the girl in the cellar had to be saved. She named Zurg responsible for gathering the rescue team to this other venture downstairs. Zurg was pleased to know that she trusted him so much. As he started to tell the toys about the risks and dangers of the trip, Mira Nova got up. She was a bit dizzy and didn't get anything else but the sentence:
"So…Warp, I know I can trust your help. And yours also, Buzz. Am I right?"
She went all pale as she thought this one of Zurg's secret meetings and hid behind the Potatoes.
She saw Warp come to stand beside the evil leader and she shuttered in her hiding place. She remarked also Buzz who went to discuss with Zurg -and thought him a real traitor. Then Zurg looked around:
"Any other volunteers? I think we won't make it just the three of us."
"I will join you." Woody wanted to make an influence on Bo and strutted vigorously next to Warp.
"Matt, what about you?"
No answer. Zurg rose his eyebrows quite surprised:
"Where is that Italian?"
Bo smiled slyly to him and said that he was with Katie – having some quality time. Everybody laughed.
"All right then, lets not disturb them. Warp, buddy, zip code* number 170781."
(* Zurg's Invincible Power Code)
"Right away, sir!" he laughed and took Buzz and Woody with him to plan the trip.
Zurg joined them right after he had told Miss Dashwood that everything would be alright.
Other toys went on discussing excited about this new adventure -until someone remembered what had happened to Romy and the subject changed to crying after her.
No sooner than two hours later was the rescue party ready to leave. They were namely forced to wait until the house was empty. Mom had gone with Andy to throw Sam and Annabelle home with her car. Zurg called for Buzz:
"Listen, Buzz… Miss Dashwood just made me swear that we would bring her up here. What do you think of that?"
"She made you do what? Gee…Um… Well, anyway it is too risky. What would Andy and her mother think about that? I say we just get her free from the cobwebs and put her comfortably to some visible corner and hope that mother finds her some day and brings her to us."
Woody interfered:
"I agree with Buzz. We're toys, remember! We don't just appear somewhere!"
Warp was the optimistic one:
"Maybe we'll find a way to get her here when we're there. Now lets go, time'z runnin' out minute by minute!"
But before they got anywhere, Jessie and Bo wanted to farewell their brave men with a manner too yucky to be mentioned. Zurg looked in Miss Dashwood's direction. She had come to escort them to the stairs. His heart was in pain for she wasn't coming to give him a farewell hug. After all, he was her best friend! He turned his eyes angrily to the ceiling and was extremely jealous to Buzz and Woody. However, when he least expected it, Miss Dashwood came and nestled against his chest.
"Promise me to take care of yourself."
Zurg was abashed but happy.
"Of course I promise, you silly thing…"
And they looked at each other in a way which confused them both.
"Here is your helmet."
"Well thank you…"
They both smiled wide. Warp was impatient. He had not the slightest intention to stay there just to watch the fondling.
"I am going now!"
It was a sign for Bo and Jessie to let go.
