The glass stretched above him like a dome, presenting the precious stars to him. His fingers uncertainly crossed a piece of metal. Shiny, and polished.
It had hit him like a bomb back then of course. It had shattered him from inside out. But as time passed, he eventually got to understand. At the very latest when the ship had been in repairs again from yet another total damage.
It was her nature. She was… always would be a cruiser of course. Roaming, searching for something more out there. More than he could ever give her.
The universe was infinite. And only Buzz Lightyear himself could cross that line.
"I'm not made to be tied down."
XR's legs wobbled uncoordinatedly as his optics were fixed on the distance and the weak reflection of light in the glass.
It was night.
A beautiful starry night sky.
It was night.
It was always night on this side of Star Command;
...where the sun had stopped shining.
Eventually the robot put the piece of metal in his chest compartment and left. Work would be waiting for him tomorrow.
###
But you can skyrocket away from me
And never come back if you find another galaxy
Far from here with more room to fly
Just leave me your stardust to remember you by
- Gregory and the Hawk "Boats and Birds"