A Zurg bot landed at night in the middle of the road. Surprisingly, the helmet opened up. Bright light flickered outlining a humanoid form that leaped out of the figure then made a slow descent down with red glowing wings. The wings closed with a single click then the figure took out a sharp piece of twine from his back that had been taken during the trip. What had to be done next was going to be both horrifying and not surprisingly painful, he squinted at the house, the toy ran on toward the house without much hesitation taking a way into the house as his figure glowed a bright red against the darkness. He used the twine to open the door, causing it to swing open, gently, softly, with only a small squeak. He proceeded to climb up the stairs, one step at a time, grunting, until making it to Quark's room as Nana came to. He slid the opening aside, carefully, quietly, then stepped out as Nana took out a bow and arrow walking through the doorway.

"Buzz!" Woody came bolting out of the darkness of the playroom then tackled the Space Ranger to the ground. "You're alright!"

Buzz lifted himself up then looked up in confusion toward the cowboy.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Buzz asked.

"Gamma left you in that other world." Woody reminded.

"Affirmative. . ." Then the Space Ranger was helped up to his feet then gazed toward the crowd of toys and back toward the cowboy. "I can see where that brings some fear."

"Is it okay out there?" Came a deep rich voice with a breathing apparatus sound.

The toys, that belonged to each of the children, were hiding underneath the bed, when the voice came from the dark that belonged to Hoichi's Darth Vader. The Space Ranger began retelling the story of what had been relayed by Karrol, rather softly.

It started with, "Once upon a time, a long time ago in a land far away . . . there were two knights searching for three villagers, they searched the craters, all but one. A serpent hybrid laid there, they fought it, they crushed it, rising to the top, then they went to the lair that had been revealed by their heroic act. They went in then split up. One knight rescued the villagers, the hornets attacked, the evil one fled, the lair's explosive devices started to erupt all over the place. The knight fell, a giant beam fell on him, sticking him to the ground, and one last time, he saved someone else by shoving his partner out of the way. He was crushed, his helmet shattered, killed moments in the explosion His partner, enraged, quiet, stiff. He attacked the Evil Emperor. The Evil Emperor was upset then decided his mole should be his new nemesis."

Slowly, the toy Buzz Lightyear approached the crowd that were beginning to relax but there were definite tension. Woody listened with his arms folded as the other toys grew more frightened by each passing word regarding the activity that had occurred in the other world.

"He was a powerful magical force. A unique one that adored doing evil, at random, went off schedule after the loss of his favorite hero. He stopped his evil acts on Fridays and became a unpredictable force of nature. His wizards, in their wondrous intelligence, sealed copies of him, not once, but twice without his knowledge. They put him in a toy, a very old, not a big one, a doll that he had stolen. A doll that had sent him on fantastic adventure, made him laugh, smile, feel better, that he were somewhere far better than this depressing and bleak unpredictable world where anyone who was his nemesis could die unexpectedly. He was taking it hard."

Woody looked toward the Space Ranger as his grin faded as it occurred to him that the Space Ranger were talking about him.

"They stitched the doll up and put him back right where he had been, unaware, only shortly informing the evil one they put a tracking device. The evil one was was pleased, satisfied, that he would never lost him. All until, he lost him by accident. Turned out, they claimed, it was deactivated. And then one day, his nemesis were taken, he fled through the galaxy, searching for him, high and low, leaving ruins behind, until making it to the civilization. He attacked, ruthlessly, rescued him, then went back, ran mad, and at the end, he were ripped apart by a werewolf."

Woody's mouth slowly fell as did his brows then put his hands on his chest, looking up toward the Ranger, scared, stepping back shaking his head. The crowd of toys included pterodactyls, a couple lions, a few princess and princes, a few dinosaurs, small action figures, and superheroes, and a couple of ballerinas, with the small assortment of younger aged toys among them that included a small machine that had wheels with a tablet as a head, and other alien toys were among them.

"In a child's. . . play. . . thing." Woody turned in the direction of the children then toward the Ranger. "Doesn't that make this a Chucky situation?"

"Woody, there's a one difference between Evil Emperor Zurg and that guy from New Jersey . . ." Buzz approached the cowboy then halted in his tracks, grinning, resting his hand on the side of the older toy's shoulder.

"Chucky. Is. NOT. REAL!" Woody shook the Space Ranger by the shoulders, aggressively.

"The multiverse is a very big place, Woody." Buzz reminded the cowboy.

"Yeah, yeah, it'll bite me in the ass saying stuff like that when it comes to the multiverse." Woody admitted as he turned away folding his arms then walked on.

"Ranger, we can't protect the children." Spoke up Prince Edward. "Our duty is to make sure they have a fun childhood, not protect them from . . ."

"Things like Nos-4-A2." Fiona finished as the members of the toys winced. "We can give them confidence, a escape, some happiness in their lives, holed up in their rooms, can't help them out by leaving their room."

"Woody, you know how the other Buzz Lightyear is based on the superhero." Buzz reminded.

"Painfully." There was silence as the deputy turned toward the beaming Space Ranger and raised his head up.

"I am based on the guy from the animated cartoon series that lasted for sixty-two episodes who knows this being who presents as a woman who can do the operation and save the kids then send you back to that lousy carnival in one night, and, if we use the funds from the giant me's bank account, she'll even find Quark's lost Woody! First, a Star Cruiser needs to be stolen, easy to get, easy to slip in, and easy to leave the Space Rangers scratching their heads. Now, how's about that?"

"The kids, Lightyear." the dark maned and thin lion, Taka, spoke up facing the tall Space Ranger.

"I can handle it." Buzz replied, setting his hands on his hips.

"As a simple and unarmed toy." Taka added as his much heavy maned and red brother glared silently back.

"But. . . This alien Dracula. doesn't. know. that." Buzz replied with emphasis then turned toward Woody lifting a brow.

"Daring." Woody said, bearing a grin. "Although, it sounds like you need some back up." he folded his arms getting the idea of what the Space Ranger was proposing. "More than one person."

"The princesses and the princes," Lightyear shifted toward the tall figurines. "Are you ready to perform a noble act?"

"It's different from being played with. . ." Tiara said as she rubbed her shoulder. "And we do face certain doom going out there."

"A lot of it." Aurora admitted.

"When it comes to the children," Ariel said.

"Facing imminent danger is worth the cost." Philip added.

"She will find you all." Lightyear assured. "And she will fix you." he pointed toward the dolls. "A good friend of mine, helped me during the war in making a exact robotic replica of a Grub, spy reasons, a war that happened many years after the third season." he got long stares from the crowd. "Technically, it has three seasons if the 62 episodes are divided evenly."

"We'll do it!" Aurora stepped forward then was joined by the other members of the royal toys.

"The Zurg Robot is outside on the road waiting." he turned toward the others. "Oh, and I'm coming back to this house, not back. . ." He waved his hand as he turned his back toward the group and looked aside. "There."

The toy ranger walked away then proceeded to jog once rounding the corner as the cowboy turned toward the group.

"Go home, cowboy." The ballerina said.

"Tell your Woody all about Andy, would you?" Woody asked.

"We will." Taka said.

"And envy you," Mufasa said as Taka glanced toward the red maned lion and laughed. "More than my brother did with me."

"The youngest is the king of something here isn't it?" Taka asked.

"The plush toys are good subjects to be a king of, brother." The large red maned lion rubbed his little brother's black mane.

"Better than a collection of hyenas." Taka replied with a smirk.

Woody smiled then waved back at the shrunken crowd and ran after the group, Nana's bedroom door quietly shut, with the primary meeting room for the children toys remaining open.

The ride was very cramped in the helmet of the Zurg bot, Buzz extracted several jetpacks that had been packed before hand, Woody recognized them as the replicas that Zurg had put him in a long time ago during his time of entertainment and chaos. Fond, nostalgic. The royal group were given a miniature set of holographic map, with explicit instructions on how to enter the code that was most likely being used for the new Star Cruiser bay. They were lucky, far as the Ranger was concerned, that everything had drawn into the way that he were most familiar with excluding the design of the Beta Star Command. Buildings rising out of the building, all connected, ledges, small buildings, tall buildings, with pipes standing out on the surface. Elaborate, sophisticated, more elaborate, and quite hyper realistic the way things had developed here. War grade material seen from other civilizations in terms of design, sharp, fierce, and bold. Intimidating, even, the windows glowing blue was a familiar sight.

Woody admired the interior of the helmet with interest. There were ports around the helmet the easily indicated this machine had been halted mid-progress. How the Space Ranger got his hands on it, he wanted to ask, looking toward the Space Ranger, it was a question that heavily determined what he did in the night, outside of the closet, outside of the chest, outside of a box, outside of a bag, outside of a suitcase, outside of many things. Woody looked in the direction of the Space Ranger making a call. Would his Buzz do this? He wasn't quite sure about it, if Buzz was capable of doing such feats that were weighed out to be impossible. Woody knew how the Buzz Lightyear died in this world, being pinned, tragic, horrible. Last time that Woody had seen this counterpart, he had been put in Gamma's chassis. Whatever happened after, the Zurg bot indicated it had been quite the adventure.

"I need a favor, Pablo Parlos, it involves a toy and putting the finding in a envelope."

"And?" Pablo Parlos raised her multiple eyebrows.

"Mail it." Buzz said.

"To who?" Pablo Parlos tilted her big head.

"Brainpod 65." Buzz said.

"Say, are you the Buzz Lightyear from the other side of the hole?"

"Unfortunetly, he is currently being treated and being sent to Rhizome tomorrow." The Space Ranger clarified. "He's going to have a bit of a identity crisis . . . And a mid-life crisis."

"Craters." Pablo Parlos said with a grimace. "That's a awful thing to go through." She shuddered in response. "Can't said it was avoidable with the Darkmatter Factor being included."

"It's going to be really rough over there." Then Buzz added with a grin. "He'll be okay in the end."

"With what? Burned bridges? Leaving the Corps? Ditching fighting Zurg? Finding out who he is without a Evil Emperor Zurg?"

"None of the above, it's. . . more like what is a Buzz Lightyear and who a Buzz Lightyear can be, hair grown out, fancy beards or not or a mustache, without being attached to the Space Ranger corps, everyone unaware of his activity, faking his death might be included if it's really needed to do this self exploration. There won't be burned bridges."

The Space Ranger sighed, lowering his gaze, shifting toward Pablo Parlos.

"Can he be evil? Good? Neutral?"

The Space Ranger went to the Alpha Quadrant in a shuttle craft.

"Or can he. . . manipulate Zurg? Taunt him? Mock him? All the way? No, he can't. Zurg will catch on pretty quickly."

The Space Ranger took off his Space Ranger uniform then slipped on winter clothing.

"He'll go somewhere that hasn't reached light speed and stick around."

The shuttle landed in a mountain.

"And Zurg can never find him."

The Space Ranger exited the shuttle, gazing out, the grinning.

"The trail's on the beaten path, smugglers use it every day, it'll be very difficult while Buzz finds out if . . ."

The Space Ranger descended the path leading to civilization.

"The beard makes all the difference determining who he is and what he is."

"But Warp Darkmatter will find him." Pablo Parlos reminded him.

"Not if he is in prison and unable to escape, like say, someone convinced him to do something, like say, help Star Command instead of helping out a customer, and Zurg didn't like that."

The Space Ranger smiled, laughed, with the icy wind brushing against him, gazing up, toward the noisy sky.

"That planet will provide some self-healing that Rhizome can't provide. Thanks, and good-bye, Pablo Parlos."

The screen flickered then Buzz turned in the direction of the cowboy.

"It's very human." Woody commented.

Buzz turned toward the cowboy.

"He is going to be okay." Buzz assured, softly, then grinned and pressed a button "Next up," Woody fell back as Buzz clung on to a long pipe, beaming triumphantly. "going to Pablo Parlos's place!"

Nebula gazed at the plans for the new Star Command base, the primary one, the alpha one. He stared at it with intensity that belonged to someone being cautious and methodical over their plans. He leaned up from the hologram then turned in the direction of the news bulletin listing the tragic story of Star Command falling for the Evil Buzz Lightyear's act. He grimaced, his hands clenching, all the signs had pointed to the Space Ranger not being the one that they knew, that it was a simple side effect coming back from the grave against all the odds laid before him. He picked up the remote then the screen flicked to another program, a old episode of Capital Planet's Dumbest Criminals, it was enough to summon a smile, fondly. All the while watching the Space Ranger do what he did best, the security cameras catching the moving images of the crime being committed and being caught with narrators voicing over the security feed. He started to laugh then turned back in the direction of the hologram.

Star Command was going to come back, bigger, better, more secured, the obvious weak points not from the outside but from within. He flicked through the engineering plans of the holographic base. If Buzz Lightyear were still there, he would have approved and found it outstanding. Layered fire walls for the computer system, a single penetration would send a signal, directly to him, and the rest of the higher ranked officials of the Space Ranger Corps dealing with far more important foes in the field. The top of the new Star Command base would be familiar, like seeing a old friend, only much different when looking down toward the side approaching it. Long corridors leading to different sections concealed in a series of rings. With a series of taps, he displayed the corridor, revealing, then smiled. Large familiar corridors, a new lab for the LGM and a new place for the guard bots to rest.

"Nova to to Nebula."

"Nebula here." Nebula said.

"The 42 is missing." Mira said with a grimace

"How did you lose it?" Nebula asked.

". . . Sir, it's not in the Star Cruiser Bay." Mira added.

"WHY ARE YOU UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?" The commander roared. "I told you to get some sleep!"

"Can't sleep, sir!" XR appeared on the screen.

"Yeah, doing nothing doesn't feel right!" Booster chimed.

"Not when Warp is out there and being held somewhere." XR agreed.

"And going on patrol was a good idea?" Nebula asked.

"It's helped us in the last year." Mira spoke for the duo who nodded in agreement.

"Maybe this is the universe telling you all to GET SOME SLEEP! Nebula out!" the commander closed the comn then sighed. "Craters," he rubbed the bridge of his nose lowering his gaze and his shoulders lowered. "Right when things are frightening as it is."

Nos-4-A2 opted to take a dreadnought, immediately, upon questioning the brainpods regarding the whereabouts of the toy. They rested against the chair, the hornets littering the ship with a floating anti-gravity base and cloaks, perks of being a villain's goon. The aesthetic of the ship remained the same as it had been before if for the exception of the grubs uniform changing from blue and red to blue and yellow. A simple modification of uniform that was required with the first of many changes that went along with what had been ordered. The Z was turned sideways to become a N, the corridors of the ship glowed yellow instead of red even from the tower. The energy vampire rested their elbows on the arm rest, waiting patiently, smirking. Nos-4-A2 had been given Planet Z, now dubbed Planet Z, the perfect evil beginnings of a villainous lord.

"Nos-4-A2."

Nos-4-A2 bounced up in shock at the unexpected face.

"Lightyear!" Nos-4-A2 announced, in shock, stunned.

"Look well for a vampire that's supposed to be very dead!"

"It hasn-why-this is unacceptable!" Their fists clenching, trembling, angry. "Why bother coming here? You're going to lose!"

"You know how Andy Barclay wanted to be a good guy and ended up becoming one of the good guys?"

"He's a legend." Nos-4-A2 said. "And painfully a fact that echoes to this day when it pertains to possessing toys."

"People like him defy the odds, and he's like me, defying villains every day saving lives." Buzz replied,

"Lovely chance to have my own match against you." Nos-4-A2 rested in the throne, tapping their claws together, confidence. "Defeat is in the cards, Lightyear."

"There's a very fine difference between Woody Pride and Chucky. . . ."

Nos-4-A2 smacked their fist on the arm rest leaning forward with a scowl.

"What's the difference between them?" No-4-A2 asked.

The Space Ranger smiled back in response. A heart? No, technically. Charles Lee Ray was a serial killer who grew as a person and made dumb mistakes trying to claim a body for the long term.

"Andy didn't grow up to become a toy hit man." Was the reply as a lone Star Cruiser appeared in front of the screen before Nos-4-A2. "Catch me if you can!"

Nos-4-A2 grew furious swinging up from the chair as the grinning Space Ranger vanished from the triangle screen.

"Get me that Space Ranger" Nos-4-A2 screeched.

The forty-two flew on.

The dreadnought stalked the forty-two.

Parlos bode her time playing a game, waiting. She had been told to check at her front door at a certain time, harbored on trade world, with no appearance from the Space Ranger who was keeping his profile very low and discreet. The man who came back from the dead, in the living flesh, in the new suit instead of the familiar one that he had died in. It was jarring, seeing the hints of the red suit, grinning, beaming, determined, and defiant as ever. She looked back at the clock, a knock echoed from the doorway, then she got up and approached the door. She opened the door, peering it open, searching around for the Space Ranger. She looked down toward the ground spotting a small cowboy on the doorstep alongside a large post card. She picked up both item then turned the post card over and spotted that it read; please leave Woody on the front porch after sewing him up, thanks for the hard work, Parlos.

"You're welcome!" Parlos called back.

There was roughly silence as her response.

"Same old, same old, being elusive." Parlos said. "How bad can it be associating with a counterfitter?"

She shrugged then closed the door behind her then rubbed her forehead.

"Right, forger. That is a bad association." Parlos leaned her head back. "Mmmhm, makes sense why that Evil version was blatant about being associated to me."

Parlos moved the toy on to the table across from the doorway.

"Operation, removal underway. Lights," she killed the lights. "camera," turned on the cameras. "action."

The repair kit all taken out with the necessary thread, and operation tools needed to be used on such a small subject.

"There's a previous cut in to the frame of the subject. Noted. By all accounts, this is the third cut, there are three types of threads."

She cut into the small doll's back with care.

"Subject Pride is well cared for and doesn't show any signs of having barbed wire put in for retaining shape, concealing the cotton, or for internal aesthetic purposes that are unnecessary."

Parlos gently removed the cotton until discovering two thumb drives set neatly beside the other.

"Subject Pride has only two items." She squinted upon the empty husk. "Unless, he were used as a container. . . The thread indicates he has only recently became one."

Parlos packed the two contents into the envelope listing it; Zeta Quadrant, Planet Z, Brainpod 65. Parlos added several stamps that would be needed to send it through the proper channels. She paused, smoothing the lid of the envelope with her finger, then attended to the cowboy. Carefully, she put in new cotton into his frame, then proceeded to stitch him back-Parlos halted. She stared at where she were stitching then leaned back into the chair, rubbing along her temple, cursing beneath her breath. A nice fine area outlined, as if something had been removed, he used to have a string. She looked down in pity upon the small doll then booted up her tablet and searched for voice boxes. The bright blue screen glowed against her gaze a she made a flurry of movements, sending out a drone, and waited there, cupping the side of her face as her nimble fingers tapped on the table methodically, music playing in the background, staring upon the toy's back. A few short moments later, the drone returned.

"Ah ha!"

She closed the window after taking the drone out.

"Subject Pride is missing a voice box." Parlos acknowledged. "Operator Pablo Parlos has retrieved new equipment."

Carefully, she unstitched the new thread then with deliberate precision put in the new voice box leaving the cord dangling out behind, then turned off the camera, finished the last stitch.

"Beautiful stitching, hard to tell, seamless blending, magnificent, wonderful, yes! Done it again!" She pulled the string.

"There's a snake in my boot!" Woody's voice came through.

Parlos smiled, broadly.

"Ah, pray to the Gods!" Parlos announced. "For finding the right thread!"

Parlos moved the toy alongside the doorway then made her way down the street to the mail box as Woody got up to his feet then made a bolt for it.

"Buzz-" Woody reached the Zurg bot.

"I know, she gave you a voice box." The Space Ranger shook his hand as the cowboy climbed up the Zurg bot. "She has autism-she has to make things right, was kind of hoping that she wouldn't notice the prior cut!"

"What's autism?" Woody lifted a brow as he tilted his head then resumed climbing.

"Watching the same scene over, and over and over, creating very sophisticated plots, reaching to beyond at one subject and leave a crater in the other. My first kid was that way. Threw me when he got angry, and I always, always, landed on my feet because he always turned my wings on and never turned them off."

"Is that how you lost your feet?" Woody joined the Space Ranger.

"My first kid was a dog, alright? And that autism kid was my first human kid." The Battle Scar Buzz Lightyear shook his free hand. "That's why I had all those chew marks all over. He was the best dog! Chew marks out of love. And I-I-I loved him, too."

"Still doesn't explain about missing your arms and one of your legs."

"A teenager." The Space Ranger relented as he pressed a button gazing up. "Made me swear off being a kid's toy." he looked toward the cowboy was using the beam as his support as the Zurg bot flew. "Dogs are better, they're cuddly, they chew you, and they always find you." Then he bore a big grin. "And they never, ever, leave you behind."

"Buzz, I am not sure how losing dogs every seven to twelve years can do with a heart like that."

"Ah, a cat person."

"Dog person!" Woody said as the Zurg bot flew off. "You know that!"

"No, I don't!"

"You forgot!"

Buzz rolled his eyes as the Zurg bot flew back to Planet Z. The Zurg bot was met by the defense grid of the plane that fired without mercy. Woody flew out of the carnage carrying the Space Ranger while wearing a jet pack as they soared back toward the planet, cackling, cheering. Evading all the security, landing to the familiar back entrance of the tower, throwing off the jet pack, then fleeing through the familiar vents, quietly. Buzz and Woody froze hearing the familiar sound of metal trailing behind them drawing their attention away toward it spotting small and tiny insect hornets staring back at them. Buzz aimed his wrist laser in the direction of the machines blinding them in a short moment's notice then Woody took the Space Ranger by the hand drawing him away as the machines collided against one another. The vent to the room concealing the tunnel extraction machine was kicked open by Buzz then the Space Ranger hopped out, turning on his wrist laser, aiming around the room as the cowboy landed behind him down to his knees and kissed the ground.

Woody got back up to his feet, dusting his knees, staring at the machine. Buzz was manning the console, becoming quickly familiar to it, then looked toward the cowboy.

"Don't change your mind this time, there's nothing left to give to Bo." Buzz pointed a finger at the Space Ranger then pointed back toward the center of the machine. "Zurg needs his favorite toy to go home and be spared from someone determined on destroying both him and the toy."

"No, not thinking about that. . ." he stepped forward. "If we're using the tunnel extraction system . . . he is going to find out where I am."

"Not if the coordinates been deleted, Woody." Buzz replied with a grin. "Easy to manipulate." he looked toward the screen. "It has a quantum scanner!"

'A quantum scanner?"

"Slide your hand into this tube." Buzz gestured toward the blue tube.

"Ow!" Woody blew his burning hand.

"That's a good thing!" Buzz smacked his back.

"Stinging, much?" Woody glared much to his companion's happiness then looked on. "It's starting!"

"Time to change the year to . . ." Buzz manipulated the console. "2022!"

"The pandemic has to be over by now." Woody reckoned. "And toys needing help getting to their kids."

"Judge that for yourself." Buzz said as the scene changed with people filling the area and the carnival was rebuilt.

"They're all wearing N-95 masks." Woody said.

"They know more about the virus than before." Buzz's features softened, wincing, he knew, the death toll had to be high to warrant masks.

"No . . . too many variants. Not enough people getting vaccinated, or something, maybe a mix of both." the cowboy walked forward as he clenched his hands, pausing, staring at the portal then his shoulder's raised up as he shifted toward the Space Ranger. "Wearing masks-hell- those kids must be scared."

"If your Andy was a kid, he would find it weird for a existence not wearing a mask in public after living with it for so long."

"Not that far off, Ranger." Woody had a laugh. "He would have helped Jenny make some masks, tried to help, anyway."

"Who's Jenny?" Buzz asked.

"She's a good kid."

There was a look in the cowboy's eyes that was the special kind and Buzz knew.

"She took care of you well." Buzz set his hand on the side of the cowboy's shoulder.

Woody shifted in the direction of the Space Ranger then nodded.

"It's a Davis thing." Woody said. "A thing called love."

"Looks like it."

"I guess, he would recycle his cowboy sheets for several masks. . . He is out of college by now!" he stepped forward then fondly smiled. "Have kids of his own, have a partner, a job, and a house." he walked toward the portal getting much closer observing the number of children. "Knowing Andy, he found Jessie and Buzz and Hamm and the rest of the crew!" he paused in front of the portal then shifted toward the ranger, who was oblivious, typing in multiple commands, a forcefield erupting concealing Woody and the portal. "Buzz . . ."

The cowboy smiled as the Space Ranger was motioning him to go.

"Thanks for the help." Woody tipped his hat then had a small wave.

"Woody, GO!" Buzz shouted, smacking his fist on the side of the console with emphasis. "The door can't hold for long!"

The cowboy turned away then ran as the doors to the lab was ripped open then he flung himself in, expecting to walk on to the pavement, instead falling and crashing on a rounded surface. The portal above him closed with a hiss. Woody looked up toward the clear blue sky with the familiar clouds. No sights of flying Space Rangers, no sights of the Evil Emperor, no hornets, no signs of a Star Cruiser. No sights of alien humanoids fleeing the landscape, only humans wearing masks from over the edge of the building. He waited, a long moment, for the portal to reopen, tense. His hands were clenched. He looked around searching for the energy vampire. Did the shields fail? Did they falter? Did he take too long? He squinted searching the sky to be fairly certain of his assessment taking a complete 180 view.

The energy vampire's helmet was bound in the toy's memory, the large silver helmet, the purple accent, the rounded optic, and the utter fury written on the features of the energy vampire. Buzz was a far devious man with a streak of his own that would be terrorizing the energy vampire and make him look mad, it was his favorite tactic in the two decades that they had gotten to know each other when sliding out of the grips of Zurg's new found enemies. It was fun being in that world, and that fun was over, gratefully. The fun didn't end for the battle scar Buzz Lightyear. Battle Scar Buzz Lightyear was more than a toy, he was a person. Woody grew a broad smile as he relaxed, his hands set on the edge, breathing a sigh of relief. He was home. The coordinates had been deleted. He made it on time. He rested a hand on his chest. Zurg was going to be forced to grieve, he needed to grieve, he needed Woody and Buzz Lightyear out of the picture. They had given him comfort, stability, entertainment, and fond memories, he was ready to move on from rage and sorrow to the gentle stream of sadness that would carry him over the waterfall that represented grief.

"Woody!"

The cowboy was immediately picked up by a familiar pair of green small arms.

"Hamm to Team Bo, over, over," Hamm talked into the radio. "IT's WOODY!" A faded green figure in the distance lacking stickers on certain areas stopped what he were doing and stared at the radio with Slinky and Bo. "Zurg's done with him!"

And Woody was home again.