The Wrong Hands

Chapter 4: Meet Me at Planet Z

The reinforcements arrived on LegoEgo and instantaneously set up camp. Star Command's trained medical professionals attended to the injured people from the battle a few hours ago. Mira's arm was wrapped in a protective bandage dressing the wound. She was now free to go about her job without worrying that dust and sand grit would get in and cause infection. Booster got a new space suite out of the cargo hold of Star Cruiser Forty-Two, were Buzz kept a big stockpile of spare suites, weapons, and various other supplies they might need. The Jo Adian was interviewing a few of the diggers for Star Command record files, getting their account of the ordeal down on his note pad for Star Command files. The planet's surface was almost green, instead of the yellow sand color, from all the green suited Space Rangers walking about. Buzz was grumbling hither and yon to himself as he looked for Commander Nebula amongst the sea of Rangers. His hands curled into tight fists as he stomped around in a angered posture.

Commander Nebula was also looking for Buzz at this time. He needed to inform the Ranger of what was going to happen next, to give him his new orders. As he squinted through the harsh sun he caught site of Lightyear."Ranger Lightyear!" the Commander's gruff voice wrung out above the rumpus Buzz turned brusquely in the direction of Nebula's voice.

"Sir!" Buzz spat as he stormed over to where his Commander was standing waiting his approach. "Darkmatter has captured my gir..." No, he almost slipped it out, better to keep it from him for a while. Not to mention he was a bit embarrassed to confess to someone else he was in love. " I mean Miss Morgans. We must go after her!" Buzz demanded a clear to go ahead and storm Moon Darkmatter. He slammed his fist into the palm of his other hand for dramatization of the importance.

"Buzz," the Commander tried to interrupt Buzz politely from his rants, but Buzz was still going on in his lecture.

"Now I suspect that he took her to his moon," Buzz talked on laying out the detail of his newly hatched plan. Buzz and Warp used to be buddies back at the academy, being so close they knew each other better then anyone else. That meant Buzz knew what Warp was capable off, and his moves, and vise versa.

"Buzz," Commander tried once again to break in to give Buzz his orders but it seemed that Buzz wasn't listening to him.

"Now I suggest that we storm in and take Darkmatter by surprise and then.." Buzz held his tongue as Commander finally got Buzz's attention to shut his mouth.

"BUZZ!!" Nebula shouted stomping his feet and waving his fists in the air irritatedly. Buzz cringed and held his ears from all the screaming. "I'm not sending a fleet to ambush Moon Darkmatter." Commander Nebula crossed his arms and looked at Buzz.

"But why sir!?" Buzz's eyes bugged out and his arms were outstretched in a pleading manner. He must save Lex in time, she was of utmost importance to him. He couldn't even bring himself to think of what might happen to her if he didn't reach her in time. Who knew what that blue devil was planing in his head.

"Because it's too risky!" Nebula gave his answer, but Buzz's one eyebrow lift told him he would have to explain further. This was too important for Buzz just to get a 'too risky' reason. And even if it was too risky that never stopped Buzz before, and it especially wasn't going to stop him from going after someone he cared deeply for. He would face all odds if he had to, even die for the noble cause.

"If we waste time trying to rescue Miss Morgans from Darkmatter, Zurg could use that time to use the Light of Orion and destroy Capital Planet, crushing the Galactic Alliance. I can't put a galaxy behind one person."

"But what if we sent two teams?? I could lead the fleet on Moon Darkmatter and," he was determined to save Lex from the clutches of Darkmatter. But Commander was thinking with his brain instead of Buzz who was thinking with his heart.

"Buzz, I know you wanna save the innocent and all but," Commander didn't know why exactly Buzz was so bent on storming Darkmatter's home, but Buzz was acting more persistent then usual on this. He also wasn't thinking as rationally on this either like normal. It just wasn't the best way to go about the situation at hand and somehow Buzz was having difficulty seeing that.. " We need you heading the team on Planet Z. If Zurg uses the Light of Orion before we stop him it won't matter a diddly weather you save Miss Morgans or not because the Universe would be destroyed and both her and you dead. Now you and your team get that weapon back," Nebula ordered Buzz.

"But Commander!"

"No buts! That was an order and I order you to carry it out!" Nebula was having a heard time keeping his temper with the younger Ranger. Buzz was more then a member of Star Command to him, Buzz was his friend. Commander hardly got so upset with Buzz like he was right now, but then again Buzz hardly wanted to disobey orders and do some pretty irrational things. It just wasn't like him to act the way he was. 'Maybe there's something bothering him,' Nebula thought as he walked away from Buzz to command the rest of the operation on the LegoEgo. 'He's just stressed out from not stopping Darkmatter. That boy needs to keep his temper.' Commander Nebula had no idea that the reason was out of love and not revenge. For all he knew Nebula thought he was still mad at Warp for being a betrayer.

Buzz stalked back to where the rest of his team was. They were done interviewing the diggers and now waiting for their Captain to give them their orders from Commander Nebula. From the look on his face a few 10 feet away they could tell he wasn't happy with the situation.

"Uh oh guys," Mira sounded the alarm to her friends, "Looks like Buzz is in one of his 'moods' again. Be on your best behavior," she eyed XR in particularly as she said this.

"What? Why are you looking at me?" XR asked. He tried to deny that he would ever do or say something to make Buzz mad, but they all knew otherwise. "I'm a good robot. It's just that no one under stands me." XR gave fake tears out of his light bulbish eyes.

Mira rolled her eyes, "Yeah right." Buzz approached nearer , "Ok here he comes!" they all posed as if they weren't saying a thing. Booster whistled and Mira looked up into the sky with her hands behind her back innocently. XR swayed back and forth on his little conveyor feet twiddling his thumbs.

"Hi Buzz," Booster waved apprehensively as Buzz stepped in front of them.

"Hey skipper," XR greeted.

"So umm what are our orders?" Mira asked him. She hated to ask but had too. By the look on Buzz's face he didn't like the orders they were given.

"We're infiltrating Planet Z," Buzz grunted as he walked past them and up Forty-Two's ramp to board the ship.

Booster's faced downed, he hated Planet Z. For him it was scarey to him and a good way to get yourself blasted, or even worse, killed.

"Oh um OK," Mira just agreed. She didn't like to go to Planet Z either but if it had to be done, then it had to be done. Mira wasn't afraid to go to Planet Z, she could face danger in the eye, she just disliked the place.

"Aww come on! Didn't we already do that once this century?" XR complained. "I think twice as I recall!!"

"XR shhh!" Mira tried to get the robot to be quiet. She wagged her finger in front of her lips in a sign to be still, even slid her finger across her throat in the kill sign.

"I'm all for getting blasted as much as you guys are, but attacking Planet Z?? That's crazy talk! Can't we just write him a letter and ask nicely instead?" XR sassed Buzz. "I'm thinking maybe if we said please."

"XR!!!" Mira tried to save him from Buzz blasting him but the robot wouldn't take the hint. Not until Buzz's face spun around to reveal an angered and red grimace.

XR stopped and smiled twiddling his thumbs, hoping Buzz didn't hit him, "With sugar on top perhaps?" he asked meekly. They all looked at him disgusted in his actions. The robot looked from one face to the other with none that were friendly.

Buzz sighed, "XR get in the ship."

"Okey Dokie Captain!" he wheeled in as fast as he could, "See when you give XR an order I obey, no question's asked here my friend I..." he could see that this was even further ticking Buzz off, not to mention the rest of his crew also, "Shutting up now." They all boarded the ship and took their respectful places.

Buzz sighed deeply with regret, "Next stop Planet Z," he threw the throttle and the engines thundered. Off they went, to Planet Z and beyond.

'Oh Lex, I hope you're OK. Hang on my love, I'll rescue you," the though to himself as he just stared out the window of Forty-Two as it was put into hyper-drive. His mind wandered out into the stars, perhaps in search of a lost soul, his own maybe? Or Lex's?

The crew caught sight of their Captains sighs. His expressions seemed to gesture he was staring off into space. They knew he was think of Lex. Mira picked up on that right away from the first moment she saw Buzz look at her. She felt bad for her Captain, but didn't know what to say except.

"Approaching Planet Z Sir," Mira mentioned to bring Buzz out of his trance. She had to bring him out of his day dreams so they wouldn't miss calculate the jump out of hyper-space and crash into a building on the planet.

"Hu? Oh yes right," He pulled back on the throttle, bringing them out just a few miles away from the territory of Zurg's empire space.

On Moon Darkmatter the owner of the manner had just gotten home from a day's work on Planet Z. If you could call what he did work.

"Ahh, nothing like coming to your million Unibuck Mansion after a day of destruction," The master bragged to himself as he stretched his wide arms towards the ceiling. He beamed to himself in pride of doing bad. As he walked threw the halls his servant girls ran out from where they were waiting for his arrival to greet their master from a long day of pillaging and plundering. They hung from his arms and cooed girly talk in his ears. They fought for position to be near him. They were crazy!

"Warpy! You're home!" One shouted.

"We missed you!" Another chimed in with the others.

"We got Lex all nice and pretty for you!" Luna the head girl piped up over the rest.

"Good," Warp grinned to himself. He loved all the attention he got everyday he came home from 'work'. Most of them were hired but some volunteered for the position of demon worshiper. Obviously blinded by his sheer wealth and good looks, but then again who wouldn't want to be in a lavished palace full of riches? They walked through the halls of the palace towards the Master's chambers, where Lex was imprisoned. When they arrived at the door ,where the two Hornets were still standing guard, Warp turned to his 'fan club' and bid them adieu. "Now if you girls will excuse me I have a date," he grinned that same erie, evil smile that gave Lex chills the first time she saw him.

The harem pouted but then turned away at their master's desire to leave him alone. Once they had left down the hall Warp commanded to two Hornets to step aside and let him proceed "Come on you tin cans, let's move!" Warp motioned his arms to part them like Moses would have parted the Red Sea. But the Robots would not move. "What are you waiting for an invitation!? I said move it!!" Warp screamed. The robots were told to stand guard and that's what they were doing. Hornet's obviously weren't the brightest beings in the universe. Warp quickly changed his mechanical arm from a four fingered, clawed, hand to a working and very potent Ion Blaster. It charged up and a green glow was emitting from the barrel of the gun. The Hornet's weren't going to argue with that and stepped aside letting Warp through. "You got lucky." the Teranian hissed at the lackeys. He then reached for the large gold door knobs of the doors and turned them open.

Lex jerked her head when she heard the knob turning. Her time was up. She turned her head towards the door and scowled. "Great," she muttered then turned her eyes back to the wall in front of her. She hugged her knees tight to her chest. Armageddon had arrived. Satan was at the door, the gates of hell.

The doors creaked open and Warp stepped in all smiles, but smiles quickly faded to frowns, and then scowls as he closed the doors and looked around his bedroom. Everything had been destroyed and the whole room had been ransacked. The mirror was busted, his dresser was spilled all over the room and the drawers were smashed to pieces. Everything in his closet was strewn about and the shelves smashed. The fireplace logs where laying on his high-priced, crimson, carpet and the ashes everywhere making a mess on the rug. The bed was torn apart and the mattress lay half on the floor. Warp was so furious you could have sworn his blue skin was turning red as his blood pressure rose through the roof.

"Arrghhhh!!! Who did this to my beautiful room!!!!!" he screamed out. But the answer should have come as no surprise to him. He also should have known better then to leave a mad prisoner in his room alone.

"I did!" Lex stood up from her hiding spot in the corner with defiance. She stood ridged, her arms at her sides in her place at the corner of the room behind the bed. She looked at him with a cold hard stare. The corner of her mouth turned just a bit in a glower.

Warp smiled cooly at her. The pleasure of seeing his captive there drowned out the anger. Then he caught sight of her outfit, that wasn't exactly the standard uniform the girls usually selected. Then he recognized the pants, "Hey! Are those mine?!" he asked pointing a finger and coming closer to her.

"Maybe," she replied shortly in a huff.

Warp walked around her in a circle like a lion circling its prey before it pounced. He examined her from top to bottom, liking what he saw. Lex kept her cold stare on him, never taking her eyes off of him for a second. Keeping up her guard.

"You're part Teranian aren't you?" He asked as he noticed the features that were distinctly unique to their species. Lex gave him no answer. " Quiet hu? I'll take that as a yes." Lex bit her lip to keep from saying something snotty. Warp stood before her just a few inches away. She could feel the exhaling from his nose on her skin. It felt like the devil was breathing on her. "And also the most beautiful Teranian at that, hmm. Quite worthy on my greatness," he grinned at her. As quick as lighting Darkmatter grabbed her in a tight embrace and forced her to his lips. Lex resisted her best, slamming his chest with her fists and kicking his shins, but he held fast and tight. She tried to scream but he wouldn't allow that. His embrace was cold and forceful, not gentle like Buzz had been. His lips were harsh and rough, cold. There was no warmth in him at all like there had been in Buzz's soft touch. In Buzz's embrace she felt safe, and secure. This, this felt like she was in the grasp of darkness. She was in danger here. She pushed herself off of him and out of his hold.

"Hey!" Warp growled. He went to pull her towards him once again but this time Lex was prepared. She threw a quick punch that he wasn't expecting. She connected with his left eye. Warp howled out in pain as her strong arm pounded the fist into his eye socket knocking him back and to the ground. Lex took this opening and ran out of the room as Warp was unconscious for the few split moments on the floor.

Lex ran at full speed through the halls of Darkmatter Mansion. She didn't let up in speed, never looking back for fear of seeing her captor fast on her heels. She wiped the saliva off her lips, getting the nasty feeling and taste from her lips as she ran. 'I've got to get to Planet Z!' she thought at she ran towards the front doors. She wasn't going to abandon the Light of Orion in the clutches of Zurg. She was the only one who knew it's capabilities and if Zurg figured out how to use it she knew the Galaxy's fate was sealed. She had to get it back, and if that meant going to Planet Z, then so be it, that was what she was going to do.

Outside she found the Planet Z cargo ship that brought her to the Moon. It was the perfect disguise to get onto Planet Z. Zurg's own fleet of ships were the only things that could go in and out of Zurg Space undetected. She could land secretly and foil his evil plans. It was dangerous but it was either die on Planet Z or die when Zurg figured out how to use the Light of Orion. And with Zurg's vast technological advantage there wasn't much time.

Lex jumped into the captain's seat and started up the engines. She set course for Planet Z.

Warp was just regaining his poise. He sat up on the floor clutching his swollen head. "Ugh," he moaned as he got to his knees. "That girl hits like a ton of bricks." he crawled over to where a shard of broken mirror that was laying on the floor where Lex had destroyed it. He picked it up in his clawed hand and held it to his eye. When he looked into it he could see the damage she left him. A swollen black and blue eye. It was swollen shut tight. He couldn't open it no matter how much he tried. "Damn that vixen!" he cursed rubbing his amplified purple eye. He was careful to touch it for it hurt when too much pressure was applied. He growled to himself as he hauled himself to his feet on the floor. He walked out of the chamber door to see where she had went. The sound of engine jets roared overhead and he knew in an instant she was gone. "GrrrrAGHHH!!" He yelled out in defeat. How embarrassing it was for him to be defeated by a woman. This made his blood boil within. He glanced to his right and left at the two Hornets who did nothing to stop Lex. Warp grew irksome of their company and so-called 'help'. His hand quickly became the blaster again and without warning he fired on them both returning them to a pile of smoldering scrap metal on the marble hall floor. "Stupid robots, that's the last time you'll ever make a mistake again," Warp spoke to the messes. He started to walk off down the vast hall, perhaps to get some ice for his bruised face, but more likely to see if he could catch Lex in his Warship. It was the fastest thing in space, and he could catch up to her in an instant if it wasn't for the vid-com call he got.

"Darkmatter!" Zurg's voice boomed over the vid-com. Warp pressed the button on his robotic arm that switched on the little round screen.

"Yes, Evil Emperor," Warp sighed.

"Darkmatter! I don't like your attitude!" Zurg bellowed at the tone of voice Warp dared to speak to him in, "I have half the mind to.." he trailed off, " Excuse me what happened to your eye?" Zurg asked with a strange look on his helmet and a point with his clawed index finger.

"I fell down," Warp didn't want to confess that a girl gave him that, "Because of an accident, that happened, that made me fall down," Warp smiled hoping Zurg would buy it.

But even so Zurg didn't, he also didn't have time to play Twenty Questions with him either, "Right. Anyways, get over here at once!" Zurg commanded.

"Hey! I'm through with work for the day get one of your other lackeys to do it!" Warp defied his boss.

"WHAT!!??? HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME!!!" Zurg screamed. His eyes blazed red, his claws clenched the arm rests of his thrown. Zurg was not a happy camper, and not one to disobey. "Get down here now!!!!! I don't care if it's your birthday! Lightyear is on his way, I'm on the brink of cracking the secret that will lead me to the destruction of the Galactic Alliance and YOU are not going to mess it up for me!!!!" he shook his fists in the air for emphasis. "Stop Lightyear and that's an order! Do you hear me!!??"

Warp sighed heavily, "Yes Evil Emperor," he rolled his eyes, or at least his good eye.

"Good!" Zurg hung up on his agent.

Warp reluctantly walked out to the landing pad to start up his ship, "Ugh, this is gonna be a long day."

Star Cruiser Forty-Two entered the atmosphere around Planet Z. Alarms and bells were going off everywhere within the ship, and at the patrol posts that orbited the planet. They had been detected as being a Star Command vessel. It was only moments before the Seeker Drones and Hornets were after them now.

To be continued..............