The granite figure was set on the newly rebuilt throne room floor. The throne room was far more extravagant and stylish than it had been before, more narrow bridges that looked sinister and with style, some bridges were like arches. Evil lingered in the air encompassing the entire room. The throne room felt emptier but admirable radiating just as the evil that was inside of the evil emperor. The evil emperor approached the granite statue that was staring distantly, smugly, a look that the emperor was quite unhappy to gaze with his arms folded.
"Brainpod 1, dump the cure!"
Brainpod 1 dumped the contents of the cure on to the statue's head that then slumped with a groan.
"I have spent the better part of the month cleaning up after you!"
Zurg kicked at the Ipsedan's rib cage, repeatedly, doing so to both sides.
"Stubborn -" thud "-little-" another thud. "-Space-" another thud. "-Ranger trying to kill me!"
Warp coughed as the emperor withdrew from the fallen Ranger who was down to a mere torn up t-shirt and black shorts.
"Craters." Warp whimpered then grunted.
"Nah uh ah, you are staying pinned down right here." Zurg said. "what is the anniversary?"
"In your dreams, Zurg." Warp said.
"Fine then, your spine is going to be severed then fixed and severed until that question is answered." Zurg's boots changed until the heel was nice and long even pointed."One last chance."
"I SAID, IN YOUR DREAMS." and Warp took sincere delight in that reply.
"You have seriously cursed yourself, Warp Darkmatter."
Warp screamed in pain.
Darkmatter screamed in glee, hitting jackpot at trade world. He clasped a large collection of uni-bucks into his arms and proceeded to march off wearing a smirk on his features heading toward the bank. Rigged game gave him a advantage that wouldn't give others the same luxury. He got a funny feeling that he were being followed then turned on his wings and flew for the bank with uni-bucks in tow. He was able to make the deposit then make a quick get away. Or so he believed.
He was tackled to the ground by no other than Buzz Lightyear landing directly on his face that became coated in scrapes and scratches from meeting the pavement. Even broke his nose at the process over his old partner's laughter. By the great bird of the galaxy, Darkmatter hated that, being defeated in the most ridiculous means possible by the one and only. Darkmatter groaned as the younger man lifted him up to his feet cuffing his hands behind his back, magnetizing the mercenary's claws in the process, restricting movement, then linked his arm underneath the mercenary's right and and flew off for the forty-two.
"You broke my nose!" Darkmatter cried.
"And you broke my heart!" Buzz said. "We're even."
"What?" Darkmatter asked, flabbergasted. "You have a heart underneath all that 'Star Command' modules in your chest?"
"We're not going to be arguing about who has a heart or not." Buzz replied.
"Where's your rookies?" Darkmatter said. "They seem to be everywhere you go."
"Mira and XR are extracting your winnings and turning them into charity right as we speak." Buzz said, proudly. "Booster is having some shore leave."
"That's illegal!" Darkmatter exclaimed. "I EARNED that fair and square!"
"Not when you were playing a rigged game, Warp." Buzz said. "You stole from people, good people, innocent well good people."
"Craters!" Darkmatter swore.
"Oh, and Star Command would like to speak with you first before processing." Buzz asked.
"Star Command this, Star Command that, when is Star Command going to cater to my needs?" Darkmatter complained.
"When you disavow working for Zurg," Buzz replied, casually. "Star Command will be willing to give you a permanent laser canon for a arm."
"You are nuts." Darkmatter said then shot back. "I'll never go back to Star Command as a Ranger, you alive or dead!"
Buzz flew into the forty-two, directly into the bridge, then set Darkmatter over to a chair, the cuffs magnetizing against the seat, the former Space Ranger scowling for a long moment.
"Normally, I wouldn't go after you for a rigged game," He held up his index finger. "this is serious business."
"Zurg's going to break me out." Darkmatter said.
"Serious business." Buzz repeated, his hands on his hips.
"And I'm getting out." Darkmatter said, smugly.
"I won't be there during their interrogation." Buzz added.
"Where Zurg will free me." Darkmatter said, confident.
"Damn it to Venus, Warp!" He loomed over Darkmatter then threw his hands into the air. "Zurg's entire attention is focused on something else and you need to give them answers or -" he gestured back and forth, between them, frantic. "-these days will just be a dream to you."
"Ha ha ha, nice, your trickery doesn't fool me." Darkmatter laughed, amused. "That act nearly worked once. Not gonna work again."
"Star Command is going to get nasty to get what they want." Buzz warned.
"Not gonna happen, Lightyear." then he shrugged with a smirk. "I am his number one mercenary, after all."
Buzz turned away raising his shoulders up, summoning a brave face, then walked on for the bridge. Darkmatter smirked, anticipating a shower of failure for Star Command. It always happened and always would long as Zurg were around. He watched the two rookies enter the ship, laughing, then looked toward him, laughing harder. It was a few minute later when the forty-two launched out into space. He scowled, head lowered, quite unhappy, miserable that he had been caught by Buzz Lightyear. It never felt good to be defeated by him in the field of action as a mercenary with a hurt reputation.
It was quiet, silent, not a word was being spoken. Unnerving for some, but it allowed time for the mercenary to be be a stinker over it. The environment canvassing the window. XR started to sing 'You got a friend in me', using a voice setting typically reserved for interrogating suspects. Buzz joined in the singing, as if it were quite natural, and Mira. Darkmatter groaned over their singing. It was in all respects shaping up to be the worst Monday on record lowering his head with a pout. Why did it have to be a Monday of all days?
The view screen changed in appearance in mere moments. Darkmatter's head bobbed up in shock at the ancient planetoid, a replica, of the far ancient demonstrations of humanity making their own asteroids. Unlike most, this was tailored to appear at best a base that had three Star Cruisers. His eyes widened in shock, his jaw falling, as Buzz looked down with a grin at the historical piece. Buzz hadn't changed much in the last three years, a static person, compared to Darkmatter who molted off his Space Ranger identity and became what he were meant to be and he liked that.
Darkmatter waited, with patience, as minutes went by then the distinctive sensation of the ship landing came to being greeted by the familiar tug of gravity. The emperor was due to appear at any moment and extract him, cutting off any unpleasant experience far as precedent had indicated. Mira and XR came out then the door opened. XR and Mira withdrew Darkmatter from the seat, turned on his helm, then shoved him out, with a scream, falling. Darkmatter landed his back with a thud then watched as the duo waved back at him and withdraw into the ship as two Space Rangers approached him from behind. The door to the forty-two closed as he were being dragged away from the ship itself by the two rangers.
Darkmatter was guided into the facility with the sliding doors closing behind him with a hiss. He was taken to the infirmary where his nose was treated then released back into Space Ranger custody. Evil Emperor Zurg is going to appear at any minute. It rang in the mercenary's head over and over, even as his helmet was turned back on. He observed the entire station was loaded with jackpot, easy to sell, easy to smuggle out, and leave it abandoned after scraping it of everything valued. He were brought into a gray room then seated down into a chair, there was only darkness for a long moment until a spotlight appeared then the commander walked forward into it
"I'mma ask you once, and I expect a answer."
"Okay, let it rip."
"WHERE IS THE HOLE?" The Commander yelled.
"What hole?" Darkmatter asked.
The commander approached him with the spotlight following and his desk behind him.
"The hole you snatched Ranger Darkmatter from!" The commander announced.
"Thaaaaat hole!" Darkmatter said as it dawned on him then grinned.
"YES!" The commander shouted.
"Forgot about it," Darkmatter shrugged, apologetically. "Not that important in the grand scheme of things, ask Evil Emperor Zurg. He remembers that sort of stuff."
"You know what is worse than Zurg?" The Commander casted a mean and dark glare upon the mercenary.
"A Evil Emperor Zurg who doesn't do his laundry." Darkmatter said.
"No, son," The commander shook his head. "a unpredictable Evil Emperor Zurg."
"Still not going to tell you." Darkmatter added, apologetically."
"Then, you have left me no choice, we're going to torture you in the best way we know possible."
"By reading me the Space Ranger manual? Ah puh-lease, that's not torture enough, then making me sit down and watch the jaws franchise with Team Lightyear is complete torture."
"You're going to become a ghost, you will be bound to this facility, you can't touch anything, can't eat, can't feel hunger, can't talk to anyone, can't be seen." Nebula stepped back, hands clenched, his shoulders raised, his mean glare sharp upon the mercenary. "Ranger Lightyear will return here to undo it; if you aren't willing to divulge by then; IT'S GONNA BECOME PERMANENT!" was the last yell by the commander who then backed off and snapped his fingers squinting back at the mercenary. "Do it, Rangers."
Hikari and another Space Ranger, Jah'dah, aimed a large device at Darkmatter. The Commander turned his back to the mercenary with his hands linked behind his back. Ovus pressed a button, the magnetism was ended, and the ray was activated. It struck the mercenary straight at the face knocking him down to the ground then he vanished leaving only a tipped over chair and empty shackles where his hands had once been. The commander turned around facing the empty space then shook his head in sorrow, turned away, then the lights turned of, and he walked away departing the facility.
Booster arrived to the portal one month and two weeks after being requested to do so. He looked down toward the brown box that had been given to him by the Space Ranger. He sighed, briefly closing his eyes, then shifted his attention toward the portal, his personal shuttle waiting for him to return and make a departure. He looked down toward the address on the box set on a white post it note neatly put there.
"Are you a chicken, Booster?" XR asked.
"Reluctant." Booster admitted, freely.
"Scared you're gonna make a mistake that can't be undone?" XR asked.
"Actually, . . ." Booster bore a grin. "yeah."
"Lemme prove something to you, and one fact only, that is just a empty portal that reflects what is standing in front of it."
"Go ahead, XR!"
XR flew toward the portal then performed a series of dancing, his reflection mimicking the same action, shaking his android rear in front of it, to amusing results. The giant took out a camera then proceeded to record the event. Booster laughed from the ship, watching his best friend's performance, watching both android's bow in opposite directions then depart the portal returning to the craft.
"Please take it over there."
XR looked up toward the giant.
"I did not mean to become the bearier-"
"You're a Space Ranger, it's Ranger business!" Booster reminded then grinned over his small friend. "I can't. . . ."
"Why can't you?"
"I can't face what I think is it over there, someone who that Darkmatter knows, who thinks he is coming back, who looks forward to his return, and I can't do it."
XR stared back at his friend for a short lived moment.
"Then it'll be done for a big buddy." XR amended, placing his hand on the side of the giant's shoulder. "As a Ranger."
"Thank you," Booster said.
"No problem, big buddy." XR said, planting the box inside his chassis. "Special delivery coming through!"
XR flew back outside of the portal then observed, there was no him in front of it. There was no ship behind the portal. As if they had came around to check the portal for a short period of time on to a different mission. He withdrew the box from the chassis then flung it out into the portal and watched it float on distantly to his view vanishing into the abyss. The android dusted his hands off with the task completed.
XR turned back toward Booster and gave a thumbs up with a big grin.
