((The first chapter was fixed a bit before downloading this.))
Naboor –the fifth forest moon of planet Angelica – was not one of the biggest in size. It was something between Cattle and Sullet in the Wix Teller system, and more than seventy percent of its surface was water. The rest was forests, meadowland, shoreline, swamps and high mountains with snowy peaks.
It was not entirely isolated from the civilization and development –but the tribes that lived there were more or less, some might say, a little ancient. They lived in peace with the nature, built their homes from wood or dug them inside the ground, and ate mostly what nature provided them with. They used new technology only if it didn't hurt the delicate ecosystem. And they lived very happily. There was only one thing that made their lives less perfect: Emperor Zurg's continuing tyrannizing.
It namely happened twice a year that the Emperor sent a team to collect -that is to rob- over a half of the harvest that the tribes could produce. It was a heavy blow, especially to those who lived near the coastline or the mountains and had very little good land for cultivation. But the Emperor was too powerful to be resisted; and as the time went by, the tribes got used to the fact that they supported also ten thousand Empire soldiers besides themselves.
It was late spring when the Millennium Falcon dived into Naboor's atmosphere, after two day's flight. The day was thirty-seventh of the Koivunuha month, and the nature had just began to blossom.
Warp and Zurg sighed in relief as they landed safely on a meadow, which actually was a sea of trillions of bright-colored flowers. Millennium Falcon seemed like a gigantic Frisbee there. Nobody had followed the two runaways –not yet, at least.
"Let's find out if there is anything useful in the cargo. We must walk quite a long journey." Zurg's voice wheezed from behind his mask. "At least I must take this darn space-emperor-suite off and have trousers! This helmet and this thick frock are so hot that I cannot possibly walk a hundred meters with them!"
"You can get your mask off?", Warp was amazed, "I never knew."
"Why, I never take it off, except when I am alone and going to sleep."
Warp followed curiously as Zurg began to open the thing -he chose to work with some pressure buttons near the neck.
"Sometimes, like now, I really hate this tight helmet! I need to breathe real air for a while!"
Zurg had little difficulties in removing the thing, which left Warp a great deal time to muse what the Emperor would look like. How old he would be? Was he handsome? What color his skin was? Was he a human being at all? At least he was tall and sturdy.
"Ah, I feel better already!" Zurg smiled when he finally got the mask off. He threw it carelessly into the corner. He stretched his muscular arms and gave a long yawn.
"Now, let's go out to get some fresh air!"
Warp, however, did not move from his spot. He only stared at the Emperor.
Emperor Zurg was in his late forties or early fifties. He had a thick hair, sideburns and chin-beard, all of them ebon black. His eyes were dark coffee-brown and rather sharp. Warp also marked his features rather proud and majestic, which made the emperor look actually quite handsome, although not perfect.
"What are you staring at, Darkmatter? Have you not ever seen a middle-aged, white-skinned man?" Zurg laughed. "Or did you expect to see a monster of some kind? Like Sulley? Mwa ha ha!"
"To tell the truth, I did not have a slightest clue what you would look like."
"I know. You are the first person to see my real face in… twenty-five, thirty years. Is there something funny in me, or why are you looking at me so surprised?"
"Well… at least your voice has changed! It is like… deeper and huskier than before. Almost scary! You do not sound like you, anymore."
Zurg gave him an amused glance,
"True, my voice is not naturally so ludicrous than what you have used to hear. But look at me, I am as pale as a snow flake!" Zurg eyed himself from a little mirror that Warp had given him, "I cannot get any sun trough that disguise. I should not wear it anymore."
"Well, despite that you are so pale, you look nearly as handsome as I do!" Warp grinned, "Whee, we must go to a bar together sometime, to see if there are some pretty chicks available…"
Zurg then removed also the rest of his suit. Warp saw that his body truly was well built. The Emperor was literally a powerful man. But there was also something in his looks that Warp could not help wondering.
"Emperor, you remind me of someone… I mean… You look very familiar to me."
Zurg turned around almost abruptly and scowled at him:
"For the sake of dark forces, what are you blabbering, Marshall Darkmatter? Now, do something useful, find some food in the cargo room, for instance!"
Ah, Zurg was not willing to discuss about his looks! Why would that be? Warp would not certainly give up so easily,
"You haven't had a wife, ever?" He stole a glance at the Emperor who seemed to get bothered –and did not answer. Warp was amused:
"You know, now that we are here just the two of us, you could tell me a secret. Why do you hate Buzz Lightyear so much?"
"Do I really have to talk about this with only my underwear on? I suggest that also you take that heavy red devil suit off and stop questioning me." Zurg looked a little annoyed and also melancholy. It was new for Warp to see his emotions and expressions so clearly. Something warned Warp not to go further on the subject, at present.
"Alright, Izzo… What ever you tell."
As Zurg had gone into the cargo room to find some new clothes, Warp sat down, sighing deep. A strange idea had struck his mind. Emperor Zurg looked somewhat like Buzz Lightyear, only some thirty years older. Could Zurg possibly be the missing father of Buzz? No, that could not be… But yet, if he thought of it, it seemed not so impossible after all. How odd. Warp kicked his boots off his feet and began to open his uniform.
"There is something very mystic in this all. And I will find out the truth. I will."
…..to be continued…….