Thirteen years and three months since the demise of the pride of Star Command, and it was hard to believe. Warp was at a baseball game that some of his kids were part of in attendance with other parents on one of those days that there wasn't a Rescue Mission to be had. He was unpacking light weight containers with a cover from the box that had been towed out and left behind the long table.
Gamma, Quark, and Hoichi were part of the event in question while the other kids were seated bored in the bleachers waiting for the event to pass and return to their game. There were other kids among the bleachers, some eager for the game even a few family members that ranged in age and a few pets. Among them was a familiar villain, Mistress Gravitina, with a little boy in her lap with a big head that was larger compared to the Lightyears for a five year old holding a wimpy cowboy. Her child was bald as she was with small moons orbiting his head and a thin ring made of pebbles rotating around the head. Gamma's brown eyes stared on, holding the bat, squinting at the kid at the center of the field getting ready to throw the ball with some arm exercises.
Buzz was among the crowd in the bleachers across from the Lightyears right nearby where XR, Booster, and Mira were. Nobody knew it but Zurg was well in attendance with a holographic disguise that was a tall tiger wearing a dark purple cloak. It was a baseball game between two schools and it had just begun. It was a lazy day during the week at a distinctive time in a Space Ranger schedule where activity was at it's low point when it came to missions yet they were still in uniform except for Warp Darkmatter; he was in dark red khakis and a partially unbuttoned red shirt revealing the short sleeved purple undershirt with the red sleeves rolled up. The giant departed down the bleachers then took out a big rib that caused the table to fall making it even.
A painful mirror for Buzz seeing armor instead of articles of clothing, but a quite domestic and at peace reflection for Warp.
"Thanks, Booster!" Warp looked aside. "Who would bring some heavy ribs for a blasting baseball game?"
"No problem!" Booster replied with a wave.
"Mister Darkmatter. . ."
Warp turned in the direction of Fredriel, a Utipisan, a tall thirteen year old boy with green spiky hair, green eyes, short brown fur that decorated his skin, and small human ears.
"Ask away, Fedward." Warp said.
"What should I get your son Gamma for his birthday?" Fredriel asked as Warp grew a smirk leaning against the water cooler.
"Gamma's a girl today." Warp said with a laugh of his own. "She said she were a girl after asking for Hoichi to get her skirt."
"He isn't wearing it." Fredriel said.
"Goddamn it-" he smacked the lid of the water cooler. "Gamma, do me a favor and stop changing your pronouns with your friends!" Warp called causing Gamma to freeze. "Getting those friends twisted into knots figuring out how to address you today!"
"Sorry, dad, can't, busy being gender fluid!" Gamma called back.
"Oh she's gender-fluid-" Warp turned toward the table then froze, the whiplash hitting him, confusion decorating his features, then turned toward them. "You are-WHAT?"
Gamma looked toward Warp as if she had been had, internal horror spelled out, shock, surprise as Quark was behind her, pointing his free hand, then began laughing.
"Hmm. . . I don't really know for sure but what I do know that he still likes barbies and power rangers."
Gamma hit the ball then ran and Gravitina's little boy flung his toy out in excitement.
"Annd?" Fredriel asked as Gamma was hit at the face by a ball that was thrown behind them.
Gamma got hit in the face by the toy then did a back flip, and landed on to a base rubbing his forehead with a groan as the toy landed in the grass and the crowd roared with laughter.
"And candy, bubblegum, toy horses-" he knelt down to the boy's level. "You know what he really loves?"
"What-what-what what what what what?" Frediel asked as Gravitina summoned the toy back with a laugh of amusement as Olizze was swinging his hands back and forth signalling 'SAFE!'
"His crush singing 'never gonna give you up' when preparing to sing happy birthday." Warp said as Gamma got back up and threw the ball out as Quark laughed up a storm.
"Really?" Fredriel's eyes grew big.
"Affirmative." Warp grew a broad smile as Gamma missed and the ball hit Quark's face hitting one of his blue eyes.
"Oh golly, that's easy!" Fredriel beamed before the Space Ranger as Quark held up a thumb over the gasp of the crowd. "My dad does this all the time when people ask him to do a speech for events! Mom says he trolls them because he hates doing speeches."
"That's the kind of guy who shouldn't be meddled with." Warp said.
"He does both versions; the angelic one and the classic version." Fredriel said.
"Does he do the angels on my shoulders?" Warp lifted a thinning gray eyebrow.
"It's angels on my side." Fredriel corrected the Space Ranger. "And he did it for his best friend's retirement party when his friend asked him to give a speech."
"That went really well, I presume." Warp assumed, largely.
"His friend never really recovered from that, he fell into a coma, appendix burst, something about a stroke, heart attack-why are you laughing and crying, Mister?" Fredriel asked.
"Pitying the person who bothered to be your dad's best friend." Warp said between his laughter.
"My mom and I do, too."
Warp looked upon the boy then back toward Gamma.
"You wanna hear a secret?" Warp asked.
"Yes, sir!" Fredriel nodded
Warp leaned in then whispered.
"Gamma is Buzz Lightyear's clone." Warp revealed.
Then he leaned back as the boy's jaw dropped then the kid beamed.
"I still love them for who they are and what they are!" Fredriel beamed, proudly, a light erupting above his head. "Oh, that means I'm pan, not bi!"
Warp finished putting his containers on the perches then walked around the table, went to the car, and drove to the parking lot. He parked the van into the parking space, unbuckled, then slipped on out and closed the door behind him and headed back toward the place where the baseball game was being played. From the vehicle, Warp's Rescue Ranger uniform was neatly packed in a box at the back. Van Selling appeared out of thin air with a big grin then went to a random vehicle and set a small device on to it then approached the baseball game by leaning against the fence. Abruptly, there was a loud explosion behind him and a vehicle flying off into the air then crashed in the dead center of the road with flames erupting from the belly of the vehicle.
"MY CAR! NOOO! MY CAR! NooooOOOoooo!"
Van Selling became alarmed at the sound of Buzz's voice instead of Warp.
"I had just paid it off!"
Craters.
"Oh, uh," Van Selling said. "That sucks."
"And now I have to write a bad romance novel to pay for it."
The whole crowd gathered at the spectacle in concern, even some curiosity.
"What is it it going to be called?" Van Selling asked.
"The depths of Miss Nedoraldo and Mistress Gravel. Grrr, I have to write about a spy, a mole, falling in love with a police officer and getting her drawn into espionage after backing out. I really hate this!"
"Do they like men on the side?" Warp asked.
"No clue." Buzz asked.
"What's your pen name?" Van Selling asked.
" B." Buzz replied.
Warp stared at Buzz, drawing a blank, searching for slang that he were aware of as was Van Selling.
" B?" Booster asked.
"Shaking my damn head." Buzz said with a grin.
"What does the B stand for?" Warp asked.
"None of your business, sir." Buzz said, politely.
"It is when it's a pen name." Warp argued back with that familiar glare. "Gotta know what the whole name means so it makes some sense."
"It's catchy." Buzz turned away shaking his head with a smirk.
"Okay, everyone, how about we finish the game?" Booster asked, clapping his hands together, drawing attention. "Sure there's some one willing to drive this-"
"Sportstar."
"Home."
"I can." Van Selling offered.
"We got a date." Buzz grinned in response.
"Back to the game!" XR snapped his digits. "Come on, come on, the fire department is well on its way."
Buzz walked away toward the game that was being resumed with the rest of the large crowd. Zurg was quite concerned regarding this event, even though he barely showed it, it irked him. Zurg turned away then joined the crowd heading back for the bleachers.
"How strange." Warp noted at the turned over vehicle. "And peculiar that something like this happens at a baseball game."
"There's other instances where this happened." Mira pointed out as Warp grew deeply concerned.
"But not where a Space Ranger is concerned." Warp noted turning toward the others then wiggled his finger. "And this does . . ." he turned in the direction of the burning vehicle. "not have Zurg's fingerprints all over it."
Warp turned away then left as Van Selling's hands were in fists. Van Selling was the only one left staring as the fire department arrived and began to put out the fire from around the blaze. Van Selling's comn began to power on and play the X-Files theme opening with the iconic whistle. The first melody sounded like a wave of sounds being disturbed on a fine tapestry but in the form of audio waves that rose and fell abruptly with no explination.
"Did it work?" Freeves asked.
"It did. .." Van Selling began to say. "but it went off early in the wrong vehicle."
"How did you blow up the wrong van?" Freeves asked, calmly.
"They look alike at night." Van Selling grimaced, nervous.
"Never the matter, the job will have to be done during a rescue mission." Freeves shook his hand then folded his arms, coated in green armor covered in texture resembling scales, with a yellow accent. "Blowing him and the children up, as appealing as it is, drawing attention to Zurg instead of the least likely culprit. . . As entertaining as it is and very attractive watching Zurg become furious and distraught; it is not in the cards."
The game ended 90 minutes later, the bleachers were emptied, and Buzz hitched a ride with Van Selling. Buzz was tired, even when he didn't show it, keeping his eyes open, the explosion had rocked his nerves awake. The Space Ranger drove him to the house with a audio book playing in the background. Buzz peered on spotting holographic photographs on the dashboard, of permanence, of roots, of what was still had, of what couldn't be lost, family members, and friends that was apparent to the aged Space Ranger. He looked back and forth toward the younger Space Ranger.
"Who's your partner?" Buzz asked, curious.
"My partner? Me with a partner, Mr Sportstar?" Van Selling laughed, dryly, as he put a hand on his chassis then turned his attention upon the road. "Out of my league and their league, not interested in romantic relationships."
"You're a Space Ranger." Buzz reminded, causing the younger Space Ranger to grimace then make a hissing sound.
"Ooooh, that kind of partner."
"Yes," Buzz confirmed with a nod. "that kind."
"Warp Darkmatter."
"Why would you want to be partners with a man who lost his partner against Zurg?"
"Well. . ." he looked back and forth to the road then back to the aged Space Ranger. "He's a good mentor."
"How is he a good mentor?"
"How?" he laughed then looked toward Buzz. "How?" he had a laugh, unsettled, disbelief, at the question as Buzz's features remained unchanged. "Oh, you're serious." the younger Space Ranger chuckled at the somber look from the older Space Ranger. "He's given some impactful advice."
"What kind of advice?" Buzz asked.
"Ones that help me with my side gig." Van Selling said.
"What is your side gig?" Buzz asked, lifting a brow.
"Hunting down people, more so, a bit of a private detective, sometimes have to rescue them, sometimes have to deprogram them, call the local authorities, return them to their family, tell where they are, though there's laws about letting me tell exes or stalkers because that's a big no go."
"So, a mercenary."
"Not quite that."
"I can't imagine advice that would do well in that hobby of yours."
"Neither can I. . . And yet, it comes in handy and helped me loosen up a bit."
"Loosen up."
"You're looking at me like it's hard to believe that I was a rule stickler. The first few rescue missions, he tackled me out of the way of fire during a report after rescuing some civilians from space pirates, Zurg, Lord Freeves, and the list goes on."
"And did Zurg know-"
"That is the beauty of it," He looked toward Buzz sporting a grin as they went under several street lights. "We get in and get out, Darkmatter, the captain, he avoids being seen, painfully, using me as the bait."
"You allowed yourself to be the bait? The bait! The literal bait!"
"It's fun drawing attention then destroying them."
"Going to get you killed being the bait."
"Not a chance. Every time that it happens, Darkmatter shows up, he's a bit aggressive about it, quiet, sometimes he wanders off during a mission in the middle of talking and finds the target like he's a bloodhound. He's taught me how to be certain that it's a A) Prank. B) false alarm. C) a wild goose chase."
"That needs no teaching." Buzz stared at the rookie. "You. . honestly. . . can't tell from reports?"
"Why would people lie about needing rescued?"
"People like Zurg do that for fun, to capture Space Rangers then either torture them or kill them or both."
"Okay, Mr Downer. Zurg doesn't pull any of it when it comes to the Rescue Unit. Sure, regular Space Rangers, he does it. But it's not often."
"Not often?"
"Space Rangers normally die in the field. . . like Buzz Lightyear. You know, sometimes, I wonder, if he isn't keeping an eye out on me all the way and that's how he gets there on time before being killed. There was a forest fire a few weeks ago, trees were falling apart, animals were running for their lives, my jet pack was severely damaged, and both of our jet packs were damaged, really."
Buzz waited for the young man to talk and he was pretty sure they were going in circles.
"The captain, he, stopped a burning tree from falling on me with his bare hands and I ran out of the way. Should have been there, hearing the tree crack, roaring, loud, shrieking, the whole fire was a background noise. He dug his boots in, keeping it up, even when it was sending him back in the middle of my shock."
Buzz's jaw fell.
"We found our rescue targets nearby, so, it wasn't a wild goose chase like I thought that it was." Van Selling pouted before continuing on with the story. "He told me to go and get them to the ship, I complied, we couldn't leave without him, I almost went after him until he came back out of the smoke and flames, half of his face was burned, his hair was still on fire, and his armor was damaged. The damage was reversed . . ."
"In. . ."
"One week. In the mean time, his kids made fun of him, mercilessly, calling him Darkmatterpool, I don't get it, and still don't."
"It's a joke." Buzz wiped off a tear, then another, and another, with his sleeves. "Deadpool is a mercenary who got severely burned and disfigured in the incident that made him immortal."
"And he isn't immortal."
"Did he have facial scars from the rescue?" Buzz asked.
"Some. Coulda get himself killed getting cooked in the heat, with me, from trying to use all his muscle." Van Selling shook his head with a tsk. "I admire his spirit. . ." Buzz's brows rose in alarm as his head bobbed up. "just not stupidity from time to time."
"He is a good man. . ." Buzz began to say, softly, gazing upon the road, warmly. "after all."
"A very flawed one." Van Selling added as he looked toward the older man. "He does do some gambling from time to time and he is the biggest weasel. Claims it's for his kids account should he die one day in the field;" he pointed at his eyes then toward the holographic image of the Space Ranger. "but I got my eyes square on him."
Buzz's lips turned up looking upon the image while leaning forward cupping the side of his face. It was the euphoria of being right that shined out louder than the shock, the stun, and the confusion being felt regarding Warp remaining a Space Ranger. He looked toward the young man with his smile remaining then let out a yawn and leaned into the back seat. Buzz gazed out the window until the vehicle came to a halt and he saw his single apartment that he was renting waiting for him. Buzz unbuckled then exited the vehicle, closed the door behind him, then turned toward Van Selling.
"And, by the way," Van Selling finger gunned back at him with a wink. "I got my eyes on you, too."
"W-w-w-why on a novelist?" Buzz pointed back at himself, scared, stepping back, his skin turning ghostly white.
Van Selling withdrew his hand then laughed, loudly, throwing his head back.
"I say that to everyone who bothers asking me about the captain." Van Selling replied then grew a broad smirk. "You're not someone special."
Van Selling drove off as the tension fell and the panic melted off the Space Ranger's features as he turned away placing a hand on his chest then gazed up toward the sky where Star Command's figure was flying across a moon. A familiar sight, consistent, full of people on the graveyard shift, essentially a skeleton crew. Instead of a scowl, a frown, a grimace, a neutral look made many nights before under the kind light of the moonlight; Buzz smiled at Star Command.
It was the middle of the night when Warp shook one of the children awake, the light was on, beaming in the square room. Gamma's arm had left behind a fine imprint on her face that caused the older Space Ranger to struggle not to laugh at her messy hair and exhaustion decorating her features. Warp sported a tired smile upon the young Lightyear as her eyes opened. She wasn't wearing her purple thermal hood so her short brown hair stood out quite wild.
"Hey, Gamma, I'll be gone for a short while." Warp then added as he pressed his fingers together. "Really small chunk of time."
"Mmmh?"
Warp proceeded to laugh, softly.
"Not a rescue mission."
"Whh?" She lifted a blue brow.
"Because. . ." Warp looked aside then back. "Just in case something happens on the way there or back, you need to know that I intended to come back."
"Mmmh?"
"No, not turning the baby sitter bot on."
"Hhhhn."
Warp sighed, exasperated.
"Speak with your words, Gamma." Warp said.
Gamma tiredly shook her head, her free hand combing through her hair, facing him.
"You can play video games if you can't go back to sleep." Warp said.
Gamma shook her head.
"I'll leave the light on." Warp warned her.
She lifted a brow as she kept another eye closed.
"I don't know," Warp shrugged, admitting, as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Got a call from the fire station and said the fire chief wanted to see me. That they sent something to the hospital for me."
She leaned up, tilting her head, confused and intrigued.
"It's all that I know." Warp shook his index finger then got up from the bed. "I'll be right back."
Warp turned around then proceeded to walk on.
"Dad, look out for the-" Gamma started.
"Ow!" Warp cried.
". . . Hover board." Gamma grimaced as Warp tripped and fell knocking down a cheap vase with flowers.
The vase fell upon his head and the flowers landed on the ground. Warp proceeded to tug it out then after some tries, featuring getting up, wandering about. Abruptly, he punched it and it shattered into a dozen pieces and he was in the middle of the road. Warp went back, turned on his car, while the children peered out the window restraining laughter. In a short moment's notice, the van's interior was covered in glitter in a pop. Quark pointed and laughed in his amusement as the others giggled, Hoichi fell back and cackled loudly, Chari was struggling to stop giggling.
Warp peeked out the window then pointed back at the window with his two fingers. You. Are. Grounded. Gamma was hollering up a storm as Quark stopped laughing then hid behind the curtain as the Space Ranger drove on down the street.
Warp arrived at the hospital with some brief traffic and guided to a room where he wanted. Warp sorted through his memories, considering, rather deeply of who he knew close enough to be drawn out of bed for when it came to what became largely assumed to be an orphan. He was tired. It had to have happened suddenly, a baby being given up for their continued safety and well being. The doctor came through a different door as the Space Ranger heard footsteps then looked toward the doorway and back in the direction of the doctor.
"So. . . why is there police officers behind me?"
Warp's gaze was on the security in confusion for a brief moment.
"You are raising the Lightyear children." The doctor said.
Warp turned toward the doctor.
"I am. . " Warp waited for a reply.
"Look through this window." the doctor said.
Warp approached the doctor's side then peered in.
"There is a three year old playing pretend with a stuffed Booster toy." Warp laughed before adding, amused, recognizing how large it was compared to the three year old. "And my, it's quite a big plush."
"His name's Alpha." the doctor said.
"Alpha?" Warp looked toward the doctor as his brows raised. "Like the number one?"
". . . Yes."
Warp had a shrug and a small smile.
"Neat." Warp said.
"Doesn't he look familiar?" the doctor asked as Warp's attention turned toward the window.
"Uh, he's three." Warp reminded the doctor. "Can't see any resemblance. Never seen the kid before."
"You should know the child." The doctor prodded.
"I don't know the toddler." Warp turned toward the doctor with a bewildered and quite insulted expression.
"You left him in front of the fire station." the doctor said. "And the footage shows you looking a lot younger," she squinted, searching, for signs of hair dye. "Which isn't quite explained."
Oh. A big oh. If he were in a toon then a cartoony exclamation mark arose above his head. The three year old looked similar to Quark, lacking the scar, instead of having blue hair, the boy had brown hair and brown eyes. The resemblance to Buzz Lightyear was quite profound from the boy's facial features once acknowledging it.
"That wasn't me." Warp lowered his head with a head shake including his hands before admitting. "It was me," then pointed back at himself. "but it wasn't me."
"Said something about not being able to be the parent the kid needed, something about Zurg and Terra Lightyear being acquaintances and that Zurg agreed leaving the child here, is it true, that you're friends with him?"
"I have never had a friendship with that emperor." Warp's rebuttal came very fast. "If I have one, it's purely for professional uses as a Space Ranger . . . and you're about to tell me that he went through a simmering blue portal."
"He did." the doctor said.
"Did he drop off anything?" Warp asked.
"Just the three toys, we lost two of them on the way here, or it could be hiding in there among all the toys, we don't know, the fire chief said the kid had three."
". . . What did he say exactly about Terra Lightyear?" Warp asked, concerned.
"Past tense words. Some incident about Lord Freeves." Warp tensed up as he looked toward the three year old. "Said you looked young and scared and so uncertain and . . . Well, the odds aren't in your favor in that world."
"They are," Warp argued with his arms folded. "It's just that, if things had to give," he yawned, loudly, patting his mouth then sighed. "To stop Lord Freeves, a deal would have to be made, something so deeply personal that Zurg would have to let it happen and do nothing at all."
"The third year. . ." the doctor eyed at the Space Ranger.
"A lie being said, self imposed exile, miserable, but the entire Galactic Alliance still standing and rebuilding."
"That's hell."
"And keeping what he loves safe for good." He looked toward the child. "Wasn't wrong of him to do what he did. . ." he was quiet. "He's fine, I know that, with Mira, Booster, and XR having his back refusing to believe him and find another way to get Lord Freeves arrested."
"What if they are not?"
"They are."
"What if he doesn't have a partner?"
Warp looked toward the doctor in alarm then squinted.
"Why would you say something like that?" Warp asked.
"Because you came alone." was the reminder. "When a Space Ranger is in uniform, normally, they're not alone." Warp's features started to fall, realizing, remembering, how things were like back then for him and how much worse it would be for him thrust with parenthood so early. "Your team is unaware."
Warp looked toward the child then toward the doctor.
"Did the kid come with a backpack? A luggage full of clothing? Birth certificate? Letter? Pictures? Videos? . . . Not even a backpack?"
"Just the toys." the doctor became quiet then made a gesture toward the officers then they left. "We'll be finding them a home."
Warp looked on in pity toward the little child then toward the doctor.
"My house is a little too full." Warp agreed with a nod, warmly laughing. "Got my pity-" he turned around then walked away. "Oh." he picked up the wimpy toy. "Found him and his cowgirl friend!" He came back then handed the old toys to the doctor. "You know, I donated this guy a couple years back," he looked toward the cowboy with fondness. "and don't regret it," he withdrew his hand. "Not for a moment."
"Like this?" The doctor pointed toward the room with a long bony finger.
"Buzz Lightyear would agree with this decision." Warp said, reluctantly, looking toward the child who was drawing on the table. "Five is my maximum." he knew how busy he would be as commander in a few years, and being there raising a three year old would require being there more and longer than being there for teenagers. "Buh-bye."
He looked back at the three year old, assured, confident, that they wouldn't be known by Zurg and have a happy childhood with parents who would be there as they grew up. With that confidence, he turned away then walked on out of the room leaving the doctor behind. With all things considered, he had genuine faith in Alpha's future as he briefly turned back toward the door for a short moment.
Being a parent wasn't easy for him, hardly, making decisions for others when he wanted to make an entirely different decision. He wanted to have made a far different one, going through it all over again, this time being there, being there for all the first birthdays. It was all the parts of being a commander, thinking about others instead of himself and how it would impact certain individuals. Responsibility of another life living around him was something not to be taken lightly. The Space Ranger resumed walking away with a yawn.
A/N Safe suggested Alpha Lightyear a loong time ago as a name, so here's a easter egg.
