A/N Orion 'Zurg' Darkmatter belongs to Maxcadet and 42Cadet on deviantart.

Zurg with horns and blue hair belongs to Safe


Zurg was sleeping in his emergency bedroom somewhere in the gamma quadrant that was quite obscure and hardly visited. A place that often than not was overlooked by Lord Freeves and left room to wait in patiently by the Evil Emperor for the giant looming storm to pass him by. The risk of attacking, the Hellbringers being summoned once again, being actually hunted down far from home thoroughly was not an experience that he wished to live through.

For now, Zurg was napping in a multi-purposed couch bunk bed. It wasn't the same as his favored charging port that dealt with recharging various pieces or his armory. The couch was dark blue, decorated in pictures of white and red rockets flying off. There was a distinctive magic school bus on the large bed sheet. He remembered how he had returned to this universe, after Nebula's death, at a playground, terrifying the adults, summoning a crowd of children around him as he felt immense sorrow with the gentle aching in the heart even after all those thousands of years. What made the heartache, the misery, sorrow about it less worse was having company during the sulking.

"Evil one."

Zurg swatted at the grub knocking them off their feet.

"Evil one!"

Zurg had a loud yawn then grabbed the grub and squeezed them.

"What is it, Vachaw?" Zurg's optics glowed a heated red.

"The back up base at Cetatauri's moon is active." Vachaw's voice was squeaky. "Request to alert them."

"Denied." Zurg dropped the grub to the floor. "He came here, foolishly, on his own accord, running away from something." Zurg opened and closed his claws, dismissively, lifting back up. "Let him be terrified." then he let out a loud laugh as he sat upright and stretched his arms out with glee. "RAT HIM OUT!"

"Immediately?" Vachaw asked.

"Hmm. . ." Zurg contemplated, looking aside, then answered. "Depends what day it is."

"Wednesday." Vachaw replied.

"Rat him out on Friday." Zurg said, decisively then held up his long index claw. "In two months. That should do it!"

"Friday it is, Evil Emperor Zurg." Vachaw said

Zurg returned to sleep, snoring away, pleased.


The sound of the doorbell rang through the house as the two police officers awaited in front of the door. Mere moments after, Warp opened the door with a hopeful look.

"Officer Betrolmin, Officer Castle."

"Commander Darkmatter." the two officers greeted him.

"Two weeks, searching, started to believe that you were never going to find them!" Warp joked, chuckling, leaning against the frame of the vehicle. "How are they? They must be worried sick about Alpha." then he amended. "Where did you find his parents?"

"We found them at the historical park at Vallis Prime." Castle replied.

"What was left of them, anyway." Betrolmin said as Warp's happy features faded.

"Their bodies were found a couple miles away from their vehicle." Castle said, grimly. "Autopsy results and crime scene techs say they were hunted down. The CSIs are searching for the evidence left behind by the perpetrator."

"Is the kid asleep?" Betrolmin asked, leaning sideways then stood straight up.

Warp looked toward Chari who was alongside the four year old then turned his attention back.

"We had just got him to sleep thanks to Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Warp said.

"Makes sense why he is staying up late, the boy was there when it happened." Betrolmin noted, somberly, Warp's features became written in horror as he turned in the direction of the duo then back. "We found his booster seat."

"Did he have any siblings?" Warp asked, concerned.

"Only kid." was the assurance from Betrolmin. "House was mostly empty."

"And the tour guide and a security officer, those two were the first corpses discovered." Castle added. "The officer bought the small family time, the tour guide led them toward the general direction of the latest archaeological dig." then Castle cleared his throat before adding. "What was found at the house was a stray cat and her newborn kittens." Castle lit the mood up with a smile. "We got them to a very loving furrever home that had been waiting for them."

Warp looked back toward the sleeping duo then back.

"Children protection social services?"

The police officers exchanged a grimace.

"Er, about that. . ." Betrolmin started.

"They had trouble as it is finding a family for Alpha." Castle said.

"But, the adoption agency normally deals with that issue." Warp looked from side to side.

"There's a slight issue about him which brought the child protection service into the ring." Betrolmin revealed.

"What kind of issue?" Warp grew concerned.

"Let's say he was left alone without a nanny bot or a babysitter." Castle said, regrettably "A lot." the commander's mouth fell as his head bobbed up. "Same old excuses;" Castle held his hand sideways, shaking it, for emphasis, rolling an eye. "'he is so quiet and forgettable'."

"How long was he with his last family?" Warp asked.

"Four months." Castle then noted. "The longest one. . . actually."

"Tell them that I got it handled," Warp advised the police officers. "I know a woman who's very desperate to have a kid to call her own."

"Good night, Commander Darkmatter." Castle was more confident in the commander's decisions than said officer was feeling at the moment.

"Buh-bye." Warp waved back at them.

The police officers turned away then Warp closed the door. He went to the basement, came back with a backpack and luggage then began packing Alpha's belongings in the living room as Quark came down the steps. Warp saw the teenager sleep walking to the kitchen, retreat with a glass of milk, carrying a triangle box full of chocolate against his side, trudging up the stairs. Warp waited, staring, at the doorway leading up, anticipating Quark to come down the stairs and ask what he was doing. Instead Chari descended, wide awake, went into the kitchen, and came back with a large bucket of cheese balls.

"Night, pa." Chari waved back at Warp.

"Chari, anything going on at school that I should be aware of?" Warp asked.

"Sculpting is stressful." Chari confessed.

Chari went up the stairs with a loud yawn as Warp laughed then looked toward Alpha.

"It's a big gamble, Buzz." Warp admitted to thin air with a smile as Chari halted in her tracks and listened. "But, the odds. . ." He waved his index finger with a smirk then pointed back at his chassis. "They're in my favor."

Warp picked up the backpack, swung it over his shoulder, picked up the sleeping four year old, then went out the front door, returning for the fallen wimpy knight, then packed the luggage in short moments notice. After awhile, Warp was done packing then returned to the basement and back out, leaving the nanny bot on the couch, activating her, then walked into the night.


Mira phased out of the wall joining her father who was seated in a nice relaxing chair. Under the cover of darkness, it was hard to see how well that he was, he looked younger, youthful, better, and healthier as the moonlight poured upon him. Mira sat down alongside him, she visited him more often than she did before. Nova enjoyed these moments when they were far and few in between. Mira donned the Space Ranger off duty uniform, mainly green, with purple shoulder padds, a single gold band around the sleeves, black belt, black boots, with a single purple line trailing beneath the belt along the side of the pants.

"You don't have to keep fighting the illness."

Nova took his daughter's hand then gave it a squeeze.

"Is a child getting to live with freedom worth fighting for?" Nova asked.

Mira hugged her father.

"I love you." Mira said, on the edge of tears.

It was the first time that she had said those words.

"I love you more, dear." was his reply as he reciprocated.

An ancient Tangean virus resurrected, and, there was no cure in sight, it was taking a significant toll on him.

And the virus wasn't having it easy claiming a powerful king.


Drilla and Richard flew to their current rescue mission aboard the Star Cruiser Twenty-Six. The ship was parked on a hill then Drilla scanned the interior of the ride as Richard made his way toward the lower section of the ship humming to himself. Drilla lifted her boots up, searching, then lifted her gaze toward the ceiling. It was dead of night so Richard put on his night vision goggles that highlighted the landscape out of the pitch black.

"Are you coming, worry wart?" Richard asked.

Drilla turned in the direction of Richard's voice.

"One moment!" Drilla called back.

Drilla grimaced before running after the source of the voice.

"Relax, you didn't bring any babies with you!" Richard assured.

Drilla looked down the doorway of the ship, clasping on the edge of the frame, her shoulders hunched.

"We can't be entirely sure of that." Drilla countered her partner's assurance. "They're sneaky!" she smacked her palm for emphasis. "I found my youngest in my suit a hour after hatching during a rescue mission!"

Richard leaned back with a laugh, his hands on his hips, his colleague climbing down the stairs then hopped down alongside him.

"And did you check thoroughly before leaving Star Command?" Richard asked.

"Very." Drilla confirmed with a nod then put on modified night vision goggles.

"Then the infant must be there." Richard turned away, his shorter figure leaving a long shadow behind him as he waved his hand. "You did shake the suit really well." he set his hands on his hips. "Really well."

Drilla huffed then eyed around the rims of her suit, concerned, then followed after him.

"Let's get this over with." Drilla's shoulders hunched, scowling, impatient, storming ahead.

Richard was wearing a smirk gazing in the general direction of his unusual Space Ranger partner then followed after her.

"We're missing an ancient ruins built into a cliff, lacking a barren wide valley, uh, there's a lot of trees, and no desert landscape." Richard noted as he observed the scenery.

Drilla turned away then watched as the lower half of the ship came down as set before exiting. Richard turned in the direction of Drilla then ran in her direction as their shared ride skid down the platform. Drilla was the first to leap into the vehicle then so did Richard, within moments, the vehicle drove on. Drilla halted the vehicle upon seeing the familiar sight of droids with a yelp. The vehicle drove backwards then halted in a small cavern. The duo leaped out of the vehicle then approached a large boulder peering on.

The duo exchanged a look, then nodded, grinning. The rangers moved, quietly, setting themselves up for a effective rescue mission. Thy hid among the boulders near the entrance way then fired at the legs of the droids knocking them down then blasted away their arms then got out of their hiding place and ran on into the interior of the temple. The rescue rangers cleared room by room, cautiously, until making it to a room that had the distinctive sounds of whimpering. They lowered their wrist lasers then Richard ran in as Drilla kept guard.

"NIGHT TIME RESCUE UNIT Space Ranger at your service, we are here to rescue you, space civilian!"

"Night Time Rescue Unit?"

One of the tall figures among the old poles, umbrellas, decoration, moved.

"There's also a Search and Rescue Unit that has gray and blue space suits." Richard held his hand out. "This way before more droids get here!"

Richard turned away then ran off as the figure followed him back outside of the temple. Plasma blasts erupted out of the night drawing the rescue rangers attention toward the general direction of fire as the space civilian hid behind a boulder with a tremble, bracing himself, waiting for the storm to pass. Drilla and Richard had each other's back when it came to the the droids getting between them then exchanged a nod, smirking, Drilla got out of the way running for the space civilian then found him in short notice and grabbed him by the arm leading him to the vehicle as Richard traded blasts with the droids walking backwards.

"Dick!" Drilla called.

The young Space Ranger turned around toward the others.

"I got it!" Richard called.

The space civilian buckled in with a tremble as Richard turned away.

"W-How about you fire from the vehicle!" Drilla suggested with her shout.

Richard turned toward her with a scowl then ducked out of the line of fire and rolled out of th way, landed on his knees, trading shots, then got up to his feet.

"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go, Drilla!" the space civilian called back. "I'm begging you!" the space civilian clasped his large hands together. "Clearly-save me! Save me!"

Drilla floored the accelerator driving on after her partner.

"Dick, jump and fire!" Drilla called out.

"AAAAAHhhhhh!" the space civilian shrieked clenching to his seat belt squeezing his eyes shut. "MAY THE GODS SPARE ME A TRAGIC UNDOING!"

"Wooooohoooooooo!" Drilla cheered running through a field of droids. "HIYAH," she waved at her embarrassed Space Ranger partner whose cheeks were red. "DICKY!"

Drilla drove after him then Richard leaped out of the way landing in his seat on his face, legs in the air then clinging on to the seat as his legs hit several droids on the way out heading for their ship. Drilla made a general path for the ship taking twists and turns, using hills, slopes as a racing track, destroying a number of droids by causing them to fly the wrong way and be destroyed smacking into a mountain.

Richard buckled up as the space civilian panicked clinging to the seat belt, the ship ahead of them growing larger and larger, taller, and taller, in a way that was a relief for Drilla. Drilla flew the craft into the garage berth then flew up the ship and Richard followed after her as the space civilian remained, gripping the seat belt, freaked out. The rescue rangers got into their seats, powering up the ship, turning on their defense weapons with a flick of a switch then the ship returned fire.


"Where is the target?" Freeves asked, leaning forward.

The lone grub stood across from the throne shaking his head.

"N-n-n-n-no, Lord Freeves." the grub trembled. "The droids were unable to get the target."

"Gods crater it!" Freeves smacked the arm rest of the chair.

The throne was different compared to Zurg's favored throne, it were set off into the junk pile somewhere on Planet F being used in a playground.

"There's always next time!" the grub insisted.

"Not when it comes to Zurg and Star Command, there's never going to be cratered next time. Leaving a universe without Zurg, a Buzz Lightyear on edge and paranoid of his impending return for life, that's a universe ripe for the picking. . If what the information about those two is correct."

"It is correct, my lord." the grub confirmed.

"Knowing a world like that existing," he leaned back against the throne, setting his hands behind the back of his head, growing a broad smile. "satisfaction at its finest." he clenched his fist. "There has to be another way to get to the other Zurg."

"You can do that with the Tunnel Extraction System." the grub replied. "All that needs to be specified is whether Zurg is a machine or not."

"Hmm . . ." Freeves rubbed his chin looking aside. "What is the most appropriate moment to choose, though? Stealing him or just approaching him from behind, shooting him in the back, firing with a plasma blaster."

"There's a distinctive moment in time where Zurg and a Space Ranger are on the roof."

"On the roof?"

"We've played . . ."

"Games, truth or dale, with that gate."

"The Evil Emperor didn't mind."

"Ooooh," Lord Freeves stood up to his feet. "then I won't mind either." he cracked his knuckles. "Is there a universe where Warp Darkmatter is there as well?"

"Many of them." the grub replied.

Lord Freeves took out the large plasma blaster, thick, twice his size.

"Prepare the gate." Freeves instructed

The grub nodded as Lord Freeves scrolled through the settings of the plasma blaster then laughed as he descended down the steps then made his way toward the room with the gate that took a short while. The long and wide corridors were well lit compared to how dim they had been only a matter of months ago. The door to the chamber opened then he picked up a jetpack that was being held up by a brain pod who turned away and rolled on away sparing no glance back at the lord. The gate knocked back grubs with the strong winds. The jet pack was activated then the lord flew on through the portal then hovered in the sky. He landed a few feet away as everyone's attention was focused on the Space Ranger who was being electrocuted as he fell down to his knees. Freeves cracked his neck then his fingers as he slowly approached the group.

The Space Ranger's uniform was different, it was all cloth, save for the chassis, no shoulder pads. There was no Space Ranger symbols on the shoulder, no Star Command symbol on the left shoulder; it was unusual.

"Why I think in the past you've been a formidable foe," Zurg withdrew from the Space Ranger. "but since you've lost your dear partner, you have been off your game."

"Buzz Lightyear may end today, but what I believe in will live on; hope, freedom, and justice."

"Oh, that's rich!" Zurg turned away from the Space Ranger. "Did you get that?"

"Got it!" The grub announced with a thumbs up.

"Excellent! Add it to my collection! Besides, Mr Melodrama, I'm not going to kill you. Nooo. I have a much more delicious idea. I'm going to take the galaxy's greatest hero and turn him into . . . me."

Buzz Lightyear's defiant and stubborn demeanor freely fell revealing the horror, the fear, the terror in his features. Freeves began to applaud, laughing, drawing the attention of the crowd, his loud laughter sending chills down the mercenary's skin, erupting ire from Zurg, and startling the Space Ranger.

"So this is how things could have gone if losing something incredibly dear to you . . . " Freeves applauded as he lowered his hands with a smirk. "Evil Emperor Zurg," he approached the group. "the unshakable, the unbreakable, the frightening figure who never ran in the face of certain danger." He lowered his hands. "Hadn't knocked you off your game."

Zurg turned away from Buzz Lightyear in surprise.

"What-who-ho-Ho-ho-how did you get here?" Zurg turned toward the mercenary. "Darkmatter, did you-"

"Never seen this guy before." Darkmatter cut Zurg off with a shrug.

"Who's he?" Freeves asked as he pointed at the mercenary.

"Agent Z," Zurg said. "Ex-Space Ranger."

"Ex-Captain Warp Darkmatter." it was the mercenary's smug reply.

Freeves looked toward the mercenary who bore a smirk. Freeves didn't see the familiar tension, he didn't see the jaw normally being clenched, he didn't see the familiar look that was worn when they discussed on the comn regarding his attempts to expand the empire. The familiar defiance, determination, somberness, scowling. Zurg had been right, without saying it bluntly, he enjoyed the experience taking down civilizations, conquering them, the fight, the struggle, watching chaos unfold on the surface. Freeves looked toward Buzz Lightyear then back toward Warp. So, the story about turning himself in a few years after wasn't out of survivor's guilt, it was guilt. And here was a world where Warp never killed Buzz Lightyear.

It was amusing seeing a younger version of the commander standing alongside the Evil Emperor in such a way that it was a bad joke. He stifled back his laughter for another time. Warp Darkmatter was on a path that led off from the rank of commander, lead off from adopting children, from befriending Terra Lightyear, leading directly into prison, a court martial. He wasn't going to be seen as the hero, the pride, the crown jewel of Star Command. It was simply hard to believe that Warp here was evil when there was some good in him hidden by dirt, rough around the edges. Freeves could see how content the mercenary was, how centered he was, how whole he was. The very piece that kept Zurg and Warp Darkmatter talking and good terms was Buzz Lightyear. He could replace the two with the versions that he knew in his mind; Warp's arms folded, looking away, with Zurg mirroring him, perhaps with a tinge of sorrow, of regret, of grief that wasn't on the commander's features, reluctantly in the same space.

"How did you get here?"

"Portal."

"A portal! Oooh! Distant galaxy accomplish a faster way of transport! A wormhole!"

"A distant universe." Freeves clarified then approached the Space Ranger. "So, this is Buzz Lightyear?"

"Yes?" Zurg asked, confused.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Are you certain?"

"WHAT DON'T YOU GET BY THAT HE'S BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!" Zurg lashed out, his optics turning a heated red, as Buzz stared in confusion.

"We're certain that he is Buzz Lightyear." Darkmatter said, calmly.

"He's from the future, not from the present!" Buzz was jumping to conclusions, quickly, quickly deducing. "And that portal-That's only a level Zurg could be at!"

"Ah, yes, he was at that level." Freeves admitted to the Space Ranger then back toward Zurg with a smile. "Zurg shared that with me. More like gave it to me with no argument."

"I win! I win! I win!" Zurg danced, swinging his hips from side to side, cheerfully.

" . . . yes, and no." He looked back and forth. "Both of you win."

"Both of us winning?" Buzz was in disbelief as he scowled. "Evil never wins! It's impossible!"

"Chaotic, perfect," Darkmatter was the most amused. "funny story there."

"No, no, no, it's not. . ." his features were somber as he looked aside, thinking it over, then chuckled. "maybe it is." The lord let out a loud laugh. "Actually, it is funny!"

"EVIL RULES! YESSSSSSSSS!" Zurg cheered.

"It's such a shame, though." Freeves noted.

"What is?" Zurg asked, perplexed.

"You have your nemesis restrained." Freeves pointed out.

"So?" Zurg asked.

"Guilt." Freeves stated, stepping forward, smirking. "Nightmares." He looked toward the Space Ranger then back. "Regrets."

"Doing what, exactly?" Zurg unfolded his arms and set his hands on his hips.

"Well. . ." Freeves looked aside then back. "Last time. . . " Buzz Lightyear's head bobbed up as Freeves grew a broad smile. "Admiral Nebula shoved you out of the way and ruined the opportunity."

He pressed the trigger aiming the plasma blaster against Zurg's chest leaving a large gaping hole behind leaving shock and horror. There were organs, wiring, pieces of cybernetic parts, all exposed standing out with Buzz Lightyear in the center of the hole staring on with his mouth fallen.

"Huh. . . that wasn't half a badly executed evil scheme." Zurg admired Freeves. "That was g. . . g. . . g. . . g-good."

Zurg fell down to his knees then slumped over bleeding out as horrifying silence lingered on the roof as Darkmatter stepped back, appalled.

"Doesn't feel as thrilling or incredibly satisfying." Freeves scowled as he turned away. "Maybe I should torture that homeless variant Zurg to death that the Rescue Rangers rescued." Freeves grew a broad smirk as he began to laugh as Buzz looked up toward him and Darkmatter's features became written in disgust mixed in with horror. "That should be satisfying."

"Who are you?" Darkmatter asked.

Freeves turned toward Darkmatter. Was he a lord here, too? Freeves couldn't be sure about that.

"It's Freeves." Freeves said.

"What a really odd name for a new emperor." Darkmatter offered for a response, smirking. "Going to take a while to get used to it."

"Your nemesis in any universe. . ." Freeves said as he grew a wide smile turning his attention toward Darkmatter whose head bobbed up stepping back in alarm. "Commander Darkmatter!"

Buzz's brows rose up as he looked toward Darkmatter who lunged after him and dodged.

"Hornets, obliterate him!" Darkmatter ordered, instead of calling out 'Rangers!'.

Freeves turned away with a laugh then flew on into the portal, missing the disorganized hornets, enjoying the familiar chase, unsatisfied, then the portal closed behind him.


Richard was the first to return to the garage then halted by the side of the vehicle observing the space civilian remaining tense. He was an Ipsedan, a afro that was a silver shade of blue, had a big mustache, with three strips of hair along his chin, and a few old facial scars decorating his face even a big one on the bridge of his large pointed nose. He was dressed in a black and red hanfu with a black undershirt that stood out namely due to the black neck collar. His entire figure remained trembling with fear written in his eyes, in every line and crease, every piece of his brows, his mouth. Richard was joined by his partner.

"So. . . where do you want us to drop you off?" Richard asked.

The Space Civilian hadn't budged from the seat, terrified.

"I have to see Zeb Lightyear."

Richard's brows lifted.

"Zeb Lightyear?" Richard asked.

"Nebula's a nickname."

"It's. . ." Drilla said with a laugh. "not."

The fear was replaced by confusion then persistence.

"But, it is! He got that name due to how he was one of a kind, building the Space Corps, how his heart was in space. He got that nickname in high school!"

"Sir," Richard squinted back at him. "if Nebula is his nickname then why does his memorial plague read Zeb Nebula back on Morph?"

"How?" the older man's face paled then shook his head. "No, how about. . ." he regained his cool tapping his long claws together. "when?"

"A few months ago at most." Richard said.

"Lord Freeves did it." Drilla said as she folded her arms turning her attention away. "It was awful."

"Audacity Lord Freeves, . ." the space civilian grew concerned. "are you sure?"

"Very sure." Drilla confirmed, her voice low.

"One of his rescues did it?" the space civilian suggested, Drilla clenched her jaw, getting angry. "Attacked him, fatally, those animals came from abusive homes."

"Negative." Richard replied with a shake of his hand. "A droid."

"But, he's an animal rescuer!" the space civilian exclaimed. "He was rehabilitated by King Nova. He is-"

"A bad guy." Richard said. "Again."

"He ca-"

"Listen, civilian, it was his droids that did the job!" Drilla snapped as she turned toward the older man's direction. "We have two Space Rangers who found them with him at the scene!"

"What about Buzz Lightyear?"

"Died in the field of action saving his partner's life!" She was angry. "Almost fifteen years ago!"

"Warp Darkmatter. . ." His facial features fell.

"Got anywhere to go?" Richard asked as Drilla turned away as her anger started to fade.

"I . . ."

"Do you have any willing relatives?" Richard's voice was gentle.

"No."

"Any friends?" Richard asked.

"All my friends are dead."

Drilla and Richard exchanged a glance.

"There's a planet where you can start over, Richtus, it's a training site for cadets, built fairly recently, asides to that commotion, it won't be that much of an annoyance. My spouse has some friends there who've got some houses that you can stay free of charge."

The Space Civilian looked up toward Richard then smiled.

"Thank you."

"What's your name, space civilian?" Drilla asked.

"Orion." Orion stated.

"You're welcome, Mr Orion." Richard said.

The duo walked away.

"He sounds so British." Drilla noted.

"This guy has had a really, bad, bad day." Richard replied as he walked on. "I sound really southern on days like those when not from the south!"

"No, that happens when you're stressed." Drilla chuckled as she replied then laughed as she walked on.


Morning dashed upon Zurg's lair with a loud obnoxious bird wail, Zurg busied himself with a garden, moving plants (the garden was very old and hadn't been tended in years), moving buckets of dirt, keeping himself preoccupied while waiting for the announcement that Lord Freeves was defeated and arrested. Zurg prepared fine and great meals for the grubs that inadvertently crossed into his orbit upon his return while seeking a ride for a ride to take to one of his emergency back up bases, chives added for extra measure as were wild rice, spicy peppers, lettuce, green beans, potatoes, and watermelon. He had taken extraordinary effort to hone in his cooking skills.

Zurg looked upon the toy that he had kept over the thousands of years waiting. Every once in a while, he would charge the batteries with a single touch from his claw once determining the toy was getting low on battery. Emotional connections to the kind Wringlys. They helped him in ways that were in the ways of emotionally being able to get up and dust off and find a new career in the meantime while keeping a low profile from the US Government. In a way, they helped him land several jobs notably at Al's Barn, at a number of theaters during the rerelease of Lightyear and the subsequent release of remakes, series premiers for Space Ranger streaming shows, (and episode premieres), attending birthday parties for kids who loved him for a selection of cash, and other unique jobs. Zurg sat out voting, he wasn't a citizen, he wasn't born there unlike how Joey's mother argued against his belief, and besides, attending an election would raise a lot of flags and start a scene.

Joey was the fondest hallmark of the first hundred years. It was all in watching a boy turn into a man then into an old man, it was the friendship that he held with the boy, and how his family helped Zurg with repairing the parts of his ankles so that he could walk. Zurg remembered being alerted that SpaceX made a new engine only to be disappointed that it was huge instead of small and couldn't be modified to be part of his legs. He remembered being so excited about it, at the prospect of leaving Earth and beginning a long journey to any advanced alien civilization, instead of taking the long path, as did Joey. It was a awful time being disappointed, heavily, about it. He sulked for a long time coming to terms that time wasn't going to pass him by quickly. It wasn't half as bad with Joey providing company during that time and when things went awful in the 20's as his friend, Zurg returned the favor. Life was not fair. Zurg was reminded of that.

The toy held a close and dear value from the planet Earth. The last pieces of a friendship that had once existed, all that was left of Joey was a big tree which grew where he had been buried, still standing, as the thousand of years waned by. He talked to it, before leaving, before going home, making his good-bye. He looked upon the toy with sorrow then looked aside contemplating, what next after his exile from Planet Z ended? The toy had to be handled with care, the toy was his dearest companion. Zurg looked aside then back; Send her to a charity. It's what Joey would do. It was the right thing, and it was going to be hard emotionally for him, and it was the correct course of action to do for things that mattered very little to the highroad of being a villain, besides, she wouldn't blend in well being among his troll doll collection.

Yet, the thought of it...

He couldn't imagine doing it.


Two weeks passed upon the rescue of the Zurg variant, and Freeves was getting increasingly irritated. He decided to spend some down time on a planet for some relaxation. It was easy to go, being short, no one paying attention to him, blending in with the crowd quite easily. Freeves was at a skate board park, enjoying the thrill, the fun, spinning his skate board in mid air then flying down upon the edge of the rink then skating back down with a loud cheer. His current plans for domination were all but a distant piece of a stressful life and something that didn't quite matter.

He flew into the air then twirled, spun, and landed on to his feet, catching his skateboard with one hand as sweat dripped down his scaly skin over the sound of laughter from behind him. This place was going to be one of many that would be spared for entertainment. Zurg would have destroyed it to destroy their morale, he knew that, very clearly.

Freeves sat down on a bench then a old man with a cane sat down alongside him.

"I remember when I used to be like those kids." Buzz said.

Freeves looked toward Buzz then laughed.

"Being energetic?" Freeves asked.

Buzz looked toward Freeves.

"Negative . ." Buzz replied, sufficiently, with a shake of his hand. "being young."

Freeves looked toward the skaters.

"It's hard to believe that we all used to be their age. That we were. . . untainted." Buzz squeezed his eyes shut as he hunched over. "Are you alright?"

"Bad memories." the older man shook his head.

Freeves set a hand on the taller being's shoulder, with care, with sympathy. He looked familiar. But who? In what way?

"You remind me of someone that I once met." Freeves confessed.

The older man lifted his blue eyes toward him.

"By what, exactly?" Buzz asked as Lord Freeves closed his eyes.

"Say that again." Freeves requested.

"By, what, exactly?" Buzz repeated.

Freeves snapped his fingers as he shifted toward Buzz.

"You just sound like a guy that I once met a couple weeks ago." Freeves replied.

"Had to be a great guy to be that memorable." Buzz said with a short lived laugh.

"Nobody finds that kind of person quite easily." Freeves said.

"Well, they do, it's just very difficult." Buzz said, winking back, in amusement.

"What's your values?" Freeves asked.

"My values back in the day were. . . ." he looked distant. "Hope, faith in things and others, freedom, and determination to fight against evil so it wouldn't prevail." Buzz's features became saddened. "That was the old days."

"Not hope, freedom, . . ." Freeves lifted a brow. "and justice?"

Buzz looked toward Freeves as if he had grown two heads, concerned, deeply bothered by it.

"That's a cop." Buzz said.

"That's also a soldier." Freeves pointed out.

"A Space Ranger is a fighter, not a cop." Buzz reminded.

"Then can you explain why they have Space Rangers randomly checking ships in transit."

"Traffic." Buzz leaned against the back rest of the bench. "Never know what you could find there, dictator escaping, smuggling of arms to a planet for a coup that is against the values of a free people and happiness."

"Oooh, interesting. . ." Freeves noted. "what are your values; currently?"

"Hope and faith that things work out." Buzz bore a small smile in return. "You look like that guy who was on television a few weeks ago, deleting that emperor's memories, very distinctive."

"If that were me then wouldn't there be those tall gray machines."

"Sure, sure, sure; they would have." Buzz confirmed with a nod then surveyed the scenery. "But, they're not here."

"Because I am not that man." Freeves said as the ex-Space Ranger wearily turned his attention upon him, full of skepticism. "If Lord Freeves wanted to relax, don't you think he would go to the heart of his empire and throw a party?"

"Back at Gopata Prime." Buzz nodded in response as he smiled, casually, then looked on rubbing his hands together. "That kid, Buzz Lightyear, it's a very good thing that he died."

"Why?"

"Because he would have died trying to save Zurg. . . anyway, I've heard rumors about him showing up at stores, purchasing plants, scurrying away without paying, how he was at a shuttle port and stole a entire ship full of colonists, they made it, but their ship was missing, how he was lost because he went very fast after entering the jurisdiction of the Space Rangers as he is-" Lord Freeves nodded along, listening, intently to what the ex-Space Ranger had to say. "What with all the chaos that Lord Freeves is pulling, it . . it. . it is a bit of a mystery why Zurg hasn't regathered his strength and forces and tried to take back his planet."

"Because he's scared."

"Zurg, scared?" Buzz had a laugh at it."Hmmph." he folded his arms, warmly laughing, as Freeves had a smile. "Used to think he were scared of the dark; turns out he isn't."

"Haven't you thought that he lives in the dark because he still isn't himself?" Now, Freeves was certain, it was a random old man, not a Buzz Lightyear variant.

"What do you mean that Evil Emperor Zurg isn't himself?" Buzz's head bobbed up in alarm.

"Zurg thinks he was himself, but he isn't, grief, it's a very special thing, including when it comes to accidents. He's still hurt, panged by regret, guilt, and sorrow, but it's a new version of him, made out of the ashes of the old, leaving only a crack behind in his back that is easily exploited." Freeeves snickered over it. "He has a fear of losing things happening not under his terms when he least expects it." Freeves cracked his knuckles. "Oh, but it's terrifying being evil, after an unexpected success, when you want it to fail."

Buzz looked toward Freeves

"Can you imagine, being Evil Emperor Zurg, finding your dead nemesis and his very much still alive partner?"

"I. . . I. . . I cannot imagine being in his shoes." Buzz said.

"It's like. ." Freeves stared at the skateboarders. "Zurg was in a wildfire, reborn in the aftermath, he's close, just not that close, to who he had once been or so people who knew him say. After their anger faded, seeing all that he did over the last fourteen years, they say he was a guilt ridden man with blood on his hands desperately being thorough trying to make sure another accident didn't happen on his watch."

Buzz was quiet for a solid moment.

"He could have killed Buzz Lightyear any time that he wanted to, but no, he didn't, he just wanted to toy with him."

Buzz rubbed his knuckles as the lord continued to talk.

"And then, losing him, by accident... One has to wonder what would happen if Buzz Lightyear were snatched out of his timeline, gone missing, never returned, would Zurg be off his game? So easy to take down? There wouldn't be that fear, but he would hunt down for information after a few weeks of Buzz Lightyear not showing up stretching on for months for years."

Buzz was quiet, reflecting, comparing, contemplating.

"Really nice talking with you."

Buzz looked up toward Freeves then nodded in agreement then the lord got up and walked away.


Van Selling walked past a tree then halted on as he stared on from a hill watching cadets alongside a figure.

"Kids, look at them, having fun."

His companion nodded in agreement, wordlessly.

"Not going to be much fun for long."

His companion nodded, again, solemnly.

"Does it remind you being a cadet training at the academy?"

His companion bore a smile in response, nostalgically, looking back.

"Fancy seeing you here, Darkmatter. Ex-partner and all, resisting to attack, highly impressive, man, it seems, the rumors are true, you're mellowing out. So you're not angry that I left you behind in an exploding ship and lost your arm?"

Slowly, his companion got up to his feet then turned toward him with a incredulous expression then his features softened and he smiled

"You're not Warp Darkmatter!"

Van Selling stepped back.

"Orion Darkmatter." Orion greeted the shorter being with a smile.

Van Selling's insect eyes stared upon him.

"Never heard of you." Van Selling relaxed, his figure loosening, losing all the fear.

"Never heard of me?" Orion glared upon the shorter being as he loomed over him then put a hand on his chest. "I'll have you know that I am his father."

"He never talks about his family, it's very personal." Van Selling said, shaking his hand, turning aside. "Except for his adopted kids, why, he couldn't stop talking about them. Proud to be the guy who adopted the Lightyears."

"Who was Buzz Lightyear's father?" Orion asked, the question drew Van Selling's attention.

"Ion Lightyear was the last who died from the war and the very first Space Ranger who Zurg killed." Van Selling said.

"Ho. . . How. . ." Orion began to ask. "how did Ion Lightyear die?"

"Protecting Admiral Nebula." Van Selling said as the older man grew saddened. "It is funny," the younger man laughed, his hands on his hips, gazing on toward the training site. "you know, Nebula forgave Zurg for that and saved his life."

Orion squinted at the armor that the shorter man was wearing as a scowl began to appear on his features.

"The color scheme is really quite ugly. . . ." Orion pointed out.

"That is a horrible fashion statement with your dress!" Van Selling shot back.

"Who's your employer? It's obviously not Zurg." Orion avoided prodding further with the very weak insult as he restrained himself. "He wouldn't dare have a minion of his running around in a space suit like that."

"Audacity Lord Freeves." Van Selling said.

Orion was quiet for a long moment then looked on toward the cadets.

"History; it rhymes. It waves back in the symphony. It's poetic. It repeats itself in stanzas." Orion had a laugh to himself as he folded his arms. "If I knew handing over the keys to my son, the family business, and retiring to enjoy the last few years of life would lead here. . ."

Van Selling tilted his head as an uneasy feeling settled then stepped back, took another step back, walking backwards, from Orion. The once mole turned away then walked on flipping open his comn.

"Van Selling to Lord Freeves."

"Lord Freeves here." Freeves appeared on the triangle screen.

"I just met a guy who claims to be the commander's father on Richtus." Van Selling informed the lizard.

"Get him and tell him to go with you." Freeves requested, calmly.

"Oh sure, i-" he turned back toward the hill. "Craters, he is gone!"

"I'll be sending droids to find and to collect him alive. Freeves out."


Warp observed the crowd of five cadets running through the training area from the hub. Jumping, ducking, dodging, swinging, song pieces of the environment as defensive weapons. They wore red space suits, all too similar to Battle Scar Buzz Lightyear, lacking the bands that went beneath the chassis with the three buttons black and thinner instead of being big and colorful compared to the regular space rangers suits with a black trim and some parts of the suit were yellow. There were five cadets in all at the training site in total with one commander.

A blast knocked back a cadet, suffering minimal damage in the suit, a plasma blast, getting up to her feet. Cadet Valley got up then resumed the course crawling on her chassis until making it out of the line of fire catching up with her colleagues. Valley made it to the large crowd who were high fiving each other congratulating each other on their times. Chuckling! Giggling! Laughing! Her classmates turned toward Valley with looks that easily said they were going to make fun of her with the other cadets at the academy. Their armor varied in damage with only two of them missing their jetpacks.

"You're too slow!" Jserey Yat exclaimed.

Valley clenched her hands.

"So?" Valley asked

"That's gonna get you killed when the second war starts!" Samson Star spoke up.

"Will not!" Valley argued back.

"Will too!" Samston Star shot back.

"Admit it, Valley," Heart Yen began. "being a Space Ranger is not in the cards."

"What IS in the cards is being a police officer," Samson Star smirked, his arms folded, smug.

"It's close enough," Jserey Yat added approaching the tall Ipsedan. "chasing suspects on foot, neutralizing threats, arresting criminals."

"Even if they're not dictators." Heart Yen finished.

"As your friends, we implore you," Jserey Yat set her hands on Valley's chassis. "before the commander tells you in more heartbreaking words," she clenched her hands on the rim. "To find a different career path."

"Cadets!" Warp called, causing the group to back off from the young Ipsedan. "There's an Cosmic Icecream in town, go there, you got great results, and it's on me!" then he looked toward Valley and held his hand out stopping her in her tracks as the others walked on. "Except you."

"I can train harder, sir!" Valley insisted. "the score can get better."

"Listen, Sid, you can't change results like that." Warp handed her the padd. "Consistent." Valley looked upon her previous results then gulped as she looked up toward him. "Just as consistent as a bee hive thriving for survival, as war among ants, as cats being strays and picking their masters."

"This is the 'you're through' speech."

"Negative."

Warp declined her assumption as she raised her attention up.

"Then what is it?"

Warp grew a smirk in response.

"There's a group that I'm making, the 300 Space Rangers."

"Like the 300 Spartans that died fighting?"

"Something like that." Warp shook his hand as she handed him the padd. "When shit really hits the fan, the others unable to perform duties, the heavy hitters, the ones who are great flying, terrible at running fast enough to avoid being shot at and otherwise make great assassins, and dodging in their very unique ways, will be the resistance." As he talked, Valley raised her head up, her brows rising, her jaw falling, her eyes growing big, leaning back. "Or if things go right," Warp started to laugh as he lifted his brows. "It could be the over kill that's needed."

"Intimidation!"

"One that causes Lord Freeves to raise his hands in the air and be arrested." Warp set his hands on his hips, smirking, proudly. "Anyway, might not be there, so it's going to be up to you Rangers to stand up and do the deed."

"But, Commander Darkmatter. . ." Valley became gravely concerned for him. "that sounds you don't anticipate being there."

"The last war, we were lucky!" he stretched his arms out. "Nebula lost a leg over it!" he clenched his hands. "Zurg rose up from the carnage!"

"And Star Command was standing, and so was the Galactic Alliance."

"That's the silver lining, cadet." Warp shook the padd toward her then turned away. "We paid dearly in lives," he looked aside. "My dad died during the war, was a toddler, don't remember much about him. He was one of the last Space Rangers to fall during the war."

"Are you asking me to lead the 300?" Valley asked.

"Negative." Warp turned toward Valley. "What I am asking you is very important." he held up his finger, somberly. "You're going to need to work with others, they're going to be your partners, you need to work as one unit, have each others back, when the ultimate sacrifice is paid to get him to a very vulnerable spot just as much as Star Command is."

Warp pointed back at himself then lowered his gaze looking aside.

"I ho-I want to live to see it happen." Warp confessed to the cadet as he continued. "To be the one to give the order, make the signal, to lead the 300 to his location, but . . ." he turned back toward Valley as he shook his head and shrugged with a bitter smile and a twinkle in his yellow eyes. "you never know."

Warp held out his hand then Valley stretched her hand out and took his hand.

"I accept." Valley said.

"Welcome to 300 Rangers." Warp said, shaking her hand. "Expect your Galactic Armor Suit after 'graduation'."

"Galactic Armor?" She was stunned, raising her thick brows up, her grip on his larger hand loosening.

"Hmm?" Warp lifted a brow with a hum. "Do you want the experimental Space Ranger suit that has mega blasters on the wings capable of flipping on to the shoulder and firing? The LGM call it Action Armor."

"Risky and very experimental by the sounds of it." Valley grimaced.

"No idea just how unpredictable the bugs are." Warp said as he laughed. "Go on."

"What do you want for icecream, sir?" Valley asked.

"Don't wait for me!" Warp dismissed her then watched Valley become distant and he smiled. "Two hundred sixty-five down," he sighed, folding his arms, fondly. "a whole lot more to go."

Warp walled on, slower, walking on toward the direction that the other cadets had gone. He was gambling with time, he was gambling with chance, he was gambling in general for results that could go either way. He was lucky, lately. He saw it in the ways that Raptor Chill and Milky Weight had stopped Lord Freeves numerous times from conquering a new world that had reached the speed of light, some planets weren't as lucky as Star Command couldn't disobey the prime directive when it came to them, they were in the Alliance territory and those planets weren't, reminders of failure and what could happen, even when Freeves had showed mercy and hadn't done genocide, he made the people worship him. There were pockets of resistance, waiting to be activated, per a chain that was established over the last few months, small, but one that brought some sense of purpose, hope, and belief that one day they could act and topple his statues down.

Warp got closer to the icecream building, the cadets all over the place licking their cups or icecream cones, scattered among the distinctive sight of space civilians. His smile faded, watching droids fly over head, firing toward the direction of the crowd. The crowd scattered, Warp fired in the general direction of the droids, stepping back, retreating to the forest. He yelled, waving toward the group then gestured toward the forest and pointed toward himself. The crowd ran after him as he ran under the cover of the forest then halted in his tracks guiding the others forward. He looked on terrified, then toward a fallen little girl with a big head, crying, holding on to 35 cm stuffed Bambi so Warp ran toward the child fast as his legs could carry him. He threw himself forward, his battle armor taking in the damage, his green and white jetpack destroyed with a single blast, then picked up the small girl. He lifted the child up, carrying her, running on as the girl screamed.

"MooooMMMYYYYY!"

Warp turned and spotted a young cheetah like woman on the ground, a big gaping hole, bleeding, lifelessly then turned away.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMYYY!"

The little girl screamed clinging on to Bambi reaching her free hand after the fallen older woman.

"This way," One of the locals beckoned him on. "the cavern is this way!"

Valley was halted in her tracks, firing on defensive shots, stepping back, as were Yat and Samson Star.

"MAMA!"

Warp ran into the cavern lagging behind the retreating cadets who made it inside before him after plowing down row after row of droids. Warp halted in his tracks, his back against the wall, the little girl sobbing over his shoulder, panting, sweat dripping down his skin. The cadets were peering out searching for the droids. Warp set the little girl into Samson Star's arms then peered out the entrance, surveying, watching as droids were swinging their arms from side to side in large bushes. He squinted, it was odd behavior, the terror itching him from the back of his mind. He began to relax, until a plasma blast caused him to stumble back with a girly shriek landing to the ground. He was dragged away from the mouth of the cavern, his chassis was damaged displaying signs of a large gaping hole, and his skin burned.

The cadets moved quickly from there, causing a cave in, then lowered their wrist lasers.

"Craters, why did the droids follow us here? This has never happened before. . . Brazen. Bold." he squeezed his eyes shut. "Ah blast." he looked up toward a space civilian. "How bad is it?"

"You're got a really bad burn on your chest and a scrape." was the reply over the sobbing of the children.

"It's fine, it's a scrape." Warp assured the children with a smile as the cadets exchanged a worried look. "I will be fine."

"Samson Star to Star Command, can you read me, Samson Star to Star Command, can you read me!" Samson Star called, distantly, pacing back and forth. "Samson Star to blasted Star Command, we've got wounded! Samson Star to Star Command!"

"The Star Command satellite was destroyed at this point." An old woman spoke up, her arms folded, she had a makeshift foot improvised, the bleeding kept at bay, leaning against the wall. "That's what crashed into the forest a short while ago."

"Cklark, search for an exit," the old local instructed. "And use the old signal amplifier, it's . . ." the old local rubbed his forehead. "bring me all the things that look like a radio, but be sneaky about it!"

"Okay, pops!" Cklark ran out of the corridor.

"Help me get the chassis off." Warp requested, wincing. "This suit. . . it's busted."

Orion watched as Warp got the chassis off then the core feature of the suit was tossed aside as Valley trembled. The ground trembled above their heads, rocks falling, terrifying them, hiding in the dark.

"Maybe they're here because of me?" Orion suggested.

Warp turned in the direction of Orion as did the rest of the cadets and the space civilians. The commander squinted at the older Ipsedan as the cadets suits glowed in the dark providing some light.

"My name . . . is Orion Darkmatter." Orion began to introduce himself. "But the Gamma Quadrant, where I am from and you knew me better in . . . as Evil Emperor Zurg."

There were gasps but Warp was the lone hold out as he looked on in skepticism for a solid moment then he laughed.

"How about no? The Rangers can handle it."

"Oh? That suit, armor and all, even if it weren't made of cloth, didn't really fair well against the suit," Warp could hear the emperor's voice instead of the one coming from the figure, he could see him in that familiar glory, the unusual cape with thorns, just like the old days, before the change had occurred, the taunting, the demeaning, the tone that he could carry when being evil in front of Buzz Lightyear, and it reminded Warp why he hated him in the first place. Instead of blue eyes, all he saw were yellow pupils standing out against a red backdrop as part of the optics looking down upon him in his head. "didn't it, Commander Darkmatter?"

"Cadets, dig out the tunnel!" Warp ordered. "We're throwing him outta here!"

"Commander?" Valley grew concerned. "He's joking. A bad tasteless one, that is."

"I am not joking," Orion shook his head, folding his arms, turning away. "believe me."

"Oh, BUT I AM!" then the commander began to vent. "I hate you for getting him killed!"

Warp pointed back at him.

"Buzz Lightyear coulda died in the middle of a battle against a hornet, but no, no, noooo, you had to make it over dramatic, you had to self destruct that lair, it had to fall apart, and I had to be the one that stood, the one that had to clean up after the mess like Buzz Lightyear did many times after you!"

He wiggled his finger from side to side.

"And you know being on that end of the stick is the most horrible thing in the entire galaxy and that doesn't even remotely cover having to find someone beyond saving!"

The cadets were silenced as he was airing his grievances.

"A guy who I thought was pretty great and holding up well being the center of attention, cause knowing him, he enjoyed it-but nooo, he was scared in his last moments! There was no attention on him, no showering of awards, no press, no space civilians-just loneliness!" he clenched his fist, pained. "He was also happy about it!" he smacked his fist on the ground. "He was all alone!" his anger was so intense that the air around the crowd grew heated. "AND. I WASN'T. THERE. FOR. HIM!" he leaned forward as he continued feeling the stinging in his chest. "He sent me out of somewhere that didn't need to explode!"

Orion was taken back.

"You're so cratered extra that it killed Buzz Lightyear! It had to be you who did it! It just had to be you, indirectly, by ACCIDENT!"

And finally, Warp was done as he leaned back, his chest aching, tired, his energy levels lowering. He took off his arm consoles, discarding them, setting them to the side with a 'Ow'.

"And nobody is going to sacrifice themselves to lead those droids away. We are going to wait for back up. We are not going to leave this cratered tunnel. We will send the signal, and they will be on their way."

The cavern was struck above their heads and rock fell around the space civilians.

"We have to get out of here!" Yat announced.

"We will." the older local said as he eyed at the other end. "We will, just give my grandson some time."

"Have some faith in kids, cadet." Warp requested as he smiled looking toward Yat as Orion gazed toward the entrance way of the cavern then toward Warp.

"But what use is having faith in children when they look up to us?" Yat asked drawing Samson Star and Valley's attention as Heart Yen used the medical computer in the arm console to keep an eye out for Warp's vitals. "The people they have to faith in?"

"Because sometimes, they are the ones who make everything right when they're all grown up. It's up to us to make sure they are instilled with values that will aid them in life and know better."

"And we have to make hard decisions for them, when it comes to doing the right thing for those who are loved quite dearly," Orion said drawing the wincing commander's attention. "Things that have to be done, setting up their future, ensuing that they know it was done. It's a worthy cause being a parent when acting on their behalf." Orion picked up the wrist laser as Warp grew alarmed. "Even when it means fighting for them and dying for them; it's far more evil being that."

Orion approached the tunnel's opening as he began to laugh, fondly, slipping the wrist laser on.

"Compared to heroes doing that, everyone knows and reveres them and sing glory to their name . . . but when villains do it; it's not widely known by the public. Only in confusion, it's wicked, diabolical, not being understood, downright non-nonsensical to the point that they sound unwell."

"What are you doing?" Heart Yen asked as she approached him.

"Doing what I should have done earlier!"

"No, you're not-" Heart Yen was stopped by the rumble of the ground above their heads.

"One more word and everyone in here is getting shot at the head."

Orion looked upon them, wearily.

"When you become a parent, others lives are in your hands; do you want them to live with someone who wants them? Do you delay having them for the sake of the children? Do you ensure that you make sure the figure developing inside is terminated when you and your partner aren't ready, or they're dying, and when you are ready to have them, to greet them with open arms, to love them with your heart, with the right conditions for them to grow in? To be called; daddy, dad, papa, pops. . . It's a truly wonderful and treasured thing, the thing that makes planning and preparing for parenthood all the more worth it. Isn't being a commander a bit like that? Throwing out cadets who wouldn't do well in the field?"

Warp lowered his head.

"Affirmative."

Orion turned toward the cave in then fired out a large hole.

"If I were your father here, seeing you come this far, after losing Buzz Lightyear, I would be so . . . heartbroken seeing you without him . . and make sure, should the need arise, to be the one to make sure you can fight another day when my villain days are over."

Orion walked out then a short while later, the firing stopped, and the droids were gone. Warp looked away, lowering his gaze, deciding then, to plant a mole into Lord Freeves's empire. He looked toward Valley as silence lingered in the air. It was risky, but, he needed to know the internal schematics of the central hub of Gopata Prime. Unless, he could send a news crew-just how stupid was Lord Freeves? Was he transparent regarding his security system? If they got him talking, he wouldn't stop talking, it was a natural characteristic of a villain. Warp lowered his head as Cklark came running in with his arms full of equipment.

"I gots them!" Cklark announced.

"Allright!" the cadets shouted.

"Commander, we're-" Heart Yen turned toward him then grew concerned and alarmed. "Commander!"

"He's fine, he has passed out." one of the young women reported, placing a hand along his neck, bearing a smile. "We can get his wounds treated at the nearest clinic until there's a good signal."

"Let's do that!" Samson Star announced as he set his hand on Cklark's shoulder. "Do you have a wheel barrow?"

"Yes, sir!" Cklark's eyes were big as saucers.

"No, not worth it, let's just carry him." another of the young men insisted.

Warp was lifted up to his feet by two broad women as the cadets worked to get a strong signal.


It was more than two days later, Warp finally came home. His chest was healed, the old surgical scars from previous surgeries still lingering on his chest, the rounded circles still as present. Warp had avoided news getting out that shit had hit the fan from Richtus, it was often, that he didn't come back home on most nights. The teenagers were getting used to him not being there. Years ago, it would have horrified him. Instead, it assured him.

He was going to emancipate them when they were sixteen after kicking them out. Destroying his relationship with them for the sake of not being impacted by the war, it was a hard thing to do, but in all, the right decision, still protecting them, all these years, so when the day came when he left and never came back, the teenagers would be alright living their own lives paying no attention to headlines about him. Quark was just shy of turning fifteen, there was the distinctive Buzz Lightyear facial features, the muscular figure, the glare being sent his way as his fingers rapped against his shoulder standing under the porch light that shined above his head.

"Why did you have to take him away?" Quark asked.

Warp stared at the teenager.

"He's four." Warp began to explain. "Alpha needs parents there, not a nanny bot, there are families where there are two bots who adopted a kid, but that's different from not being there 90% of the time!"

"But, he's one of us!" Quark protested as he leaned off the door. "He looks like one of us!"

Warp wore this strangely pained emotional expression. Orion's words echoed. He had to tell.

"He . . is. . . you. . . and you are him. . ." Warp sounded bitter as he walked alongside Quark with a sigh then finished, sharply, turning toward Quark. "all grown up."

Quark was silenced as he stared at Warp then stepped back.

"That's not funny."

Warp didn't say another word.

"You're joking!"

Warp looked very pained, grimacing, as the teenager approaching him.

"Tell me you're joking!"

Warp stepped back visibly personally ashamed, saddened, turning away, guilt on his features, looking aside.

"If Lightyear never died, Zurg would have never made you or your siblings."

Quark stepped back, horrified, then it became replaced by anger.

"I'm Buzz Lightyear!" Quark turned away clenching his head. "Oh my Go-"

"You are Quark Lightyear." Warp cut him off. "You're my son, and for that, I love you." Warp turned toward him, apologetically, reached his hand toward him. "Quark-"

"Stay away from me!" Quark shoved him back, his high pitched voice revealing how upset that he was. "Does that mea-" he grasped the handle of the door. "we're literal Stormtroopers!"

"N-n-n-n-n-no, listen." Warp shook his hands. "You're not!" he took a step forward with a small laugh. "Nana had that bit checked out; there's no chip in yo-"

"It's true, what that droid said!" Quark slid the door behind him. "You see him, instead of me!"

"Quark, that's not true!" Warp protested.

"I can't believe any word that you say!" Quark cried out.

Quark went inside then bolted up the stairs then Warp took a few steps forward then halted in his tracks, looking on toward the doorway, inwardly aching. He closed the door behind him then sighed taking off his commander uniform. He was tired, the kid would air out his rage, his anger, his hurt, in time and cool down. At least, he hoped so. Warp rubbed his forehead with his back toward the door leaving the space suit standing. He climbed up the stairs then saw the door ajar. Warp looked aside, regretting, then approached the doorway. He contemplated the best words to say with care.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Quark." Warp said, softly.

One day, Quark would look back, older, reflecting, long after Warp was gone due to the inevitable war that Freeves would start. Gambling always did bite him in the ass. Warp turned away then walked down the series of stairs then deactivated the nanny bot and set her down into her chair.

The commander sat down at the table that had dinner still left out. He looked up, spotting Chari, having another serving of potato soup with sausage in it. Warp looked up, surprised, spooked, withdrawing his arms in alarm.

"Oh, hey dad, I didn't notice you." Chari said at a freaked out Warp and waved.

"Chari, how would you react if I told you that. . ." Warp began to say.

"That what?" Chari asked between bites.

"You're Buzz Lightyear's clone." Warp saod.

"Cheat my history class." Chari said.

"Can't do that, memories are too far gone," Warp shook his head. "if you were his clone."

"Then that would suck because there are no benefits to it." Chari replied with a scowl.

"You're sneaky." Warp reminded Chari with a smile. "And devious, and you; there are some benefits to it."

"Oh, if I'm a clone, and so are the others, then wouldn't we be able to impersonate each other and fool people with it?" Warp stared at her, almost inwardly wanting to remind her of how their childhoods had been spent, of how they took turns wearing each others hood, impersonating each other, for mischief. She knew the answer and so did he. "Then what are the other benefits?"

"What I just told you." Warp said as he laughed.

Chari looked aside mulling it over before replying, her lips puckered, looking aside.

"Mmmhm, okay." Chari shrugged it away.

"Doesn't it bother you?" Warp asked.

Chari took a bite out of her meal, chewed, then swallowed and dabbed at her lips before replying.

"Does it bother you that you've grayed and we haven't?" Chari lifted her brows with a smile.

Warp lowered his gaze drawing the alarm.

"Affirmative." Warp confirmed.

"That's not what you were supposed to say." Chari was irritated drawing Warp's surprise at the annoyed teenager. "That. . . was supposed to be a joke."

"Chari, really, stop it, that's not your thing, poetry is." Warp reminded her.

"One of Quark's friends says that it is."

"And you like them."

"Other people agree."

"Chari. . . if you want to land your jokes, don't think they're supposed to be funny, let it out, it comes from the heart, from the soul, and the mind."

"Is that what it were like for daddy?" Chari asked. "Being a Space Ranger? Was that his heart?"

". . . it doesn't have to be your heart." Warp replied. "Sure, attend the academy, just to get some degree or something to do your favorite career, just make sure to follow your heart."

"So you must be following your heart." Chari commented.

Warp looked aside, fondly, then back with a small smile.

"All the way." Warp got up, got a bowl, and a spoon then sat back down. "Ever since he left."

The duo ate at the table, quietly, as Chari looked back and forth, contemplating, puckering her lips.

"So, tell me, being Buzz Lightyear's clone a joke?" Chari asked, at random.

Warp was in the middle of eating when he spat out what he were eating and laughed.

"I nailed it!" Chari ran out, cheering. "I NAILED IT!"

Warp sighed, looking aside, toward a empty chair. It was going to be rough to get used to no nanny bot and no kids at the table. Then again, he was used to not being at the dinner table with them. It was going to be easy.


A/N Zurg is Buzz Lightyear's father, valid. Zurg is a small alien, valid. Zurg is a grub, valid. Zurg isn't Buzz Lightyear's father, valid. Zurg is an android, valid. Zurg is a cyborg, valid. Zurg is blue in some way beneath the helmet, valid. Zurg is Darkmatter's father, valid. Anything about Zurg is valid; the blosc multiverse exists.