Author's Note:
FINALLY! I finally got this chapter rewritten! W0000t~! Not only that, but it's my longest chapter EVER of ANY fic! Nearly 7,000 words! *does little dance*
==Chapter VIII==
It Started out as a Feeling
"The sin which is not too great to be forsaken, is not too great to be forgiven."
—Thomas Horton
Capital Moon Orbital Station; (Friday) 4/27/09
The Observatory Conference Room on the Capital Moon Orbital Station was decked out to the max for the Senatorial dinner. The huge room seemed to have exploded with exotic flowers, the likes of which Erin had never seen before. Several buffet tables were loaded to the point of collapsing—much to Booster's delight—and the band played classical music up on the stage.
The whole thing was a sight Erin had only ever seen in movies. She loved it.
But far more breathtaking was the Moon, filling much of the viewports. She hung in the black depths of space as a silent witness to her motherworld's history. Kingdoms had come and gone on Earth, islands had been formed and destroyed, lands had changed, and still the Moon remained much the same. The United Sates had sent out her sons to touch the lonely terrain, and though no man or nation could ever claim something so untamable as the Moon, America's touch remained there as a first love.
Then the Milky Way War had swept across the galaxy, and the USA had built a military base on the Moon, which was abandoned soon after the war. Even now, more than a thousand years since Erin's birth, the Moon remained so largely untouched, the natives of her planet seeming to silently agree that to build upon her surface unnecessarily would be treading on holy ground.
Staring out the viewport now, Erin could understand why. There was something very ancient and awe-inspiring about that sight. Finally tearing herself from the fantastic view, she turned to study the people gathered. Star Command was full of different races, but the guests tonight far exceeded that. The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors was amazing and disorienting.
She smirked to see Booster at one of the buffet tables, and XR hitting on a Senator's aide. Buzz and Mira were dutifully patrolling the room with the other four Ranger teams—twenty Rangers in all. Sighing for the sake of it, she meandered her way back to her brother (how easily she had fallen into the habit of regarding him as such!).
She had just reached him when a dual-toned voice rang out, freezing nearly everyone in their tracks. "Good evening, everyone!"
Twenty Rangers are no deterrent for a certain Evil Emperor when he really wants something. Tonight was no exception.
The only people in the room that didn't freeze were the band, which played on, oblivious to the arrival of the galaxy's most feared and hated man. "Zurg!" Buzz gasped, bringing his wrist-laser to bear, the other Rangers following suit.
Erin's stomach suddenly churned, and she had the nagging feeling that it wasn't because of Zurg's appearance. "Buzz…" she murmured.
"Oh, please, Lightyear—need we be so hostile?" said Zurg, waving a dismissive hand at his archenemy. "We're just here for the party?"
"We?" Mira groaned.
A tall, sturdy silhouette strode up to Zurg's side, the silhouette resolving itself in the form of a well-known criminal. Warp Darkmatter stood at parade attention, dressed in a stylish black tux in place of his spacesuit.
Erin's stomach tightened apprehensively.
"Hey, Lightyear!" the man called. "What's up?"
"Two gatecrashers who happen to be on the top of Star Command's Most Wanted!" Buzz retorted.
"Re-lax!" Zurg soothed. "We'll hang out for a while and be back home before the party's even over—so you're happy, we're happy, everybody's happy!" He flung his arms out, grinning widely. The Rangers didn't stand down as Zurg glided over to the buffet table where Booster stood, gaping. "Ooo! Teriyaki chicken! My favorite!" He proceeded to load up a large plastic plate at a speed that impressed even the Jo-Adian Ranger.
The other Rangers—Buzz especially—stared in shock.
Erin was seized with the sudden urge to giggle.
The guests seemed to decide that everything was all right—or at least, safe—so they all returned to their business. Mira began to try to shake Buzz out of his daze. "Hey, Buzz, it's okay," she said gently.
Warp walked over to them, looking shot and galaxy-weary despite his debonair appearance. "Hey," he said tiredly in Buzz's direction.
"Hey," Buzz echoed, in the same tone.
"Kid sister?" Jerk of the head in Erin's direction.
Toneless reply. "Yup."
"Hey, kid sister has a name, and kid sister ain't so much of a 'kid,' anymore," Erin interjected pointedly.
Warp turned to Erin, his gaze uncomfortably intense. "Believe me, sweetheart, nobody could mistake you for a kid right now." His husky voice held a note of… something… in it… He gave her an innocent, lopsided grin.
She froze. Oh, mother of Venus. His smile. His voice.
Too many emotions, too many responses whirled within her for her to handle. She settled for evenly returning, "And no one should mistake you for anything but the creep you are, Hayden."
His already pale blue skin greyed.
Abruptly alert, Buzz glanced suspiciously between former partner and adopted sister. "Hadyen?"
Erin's brown eyes never left Warp's blue ones, as she replied, "Nada importante, mi hermano." Unable to endure the standoff any longer, she spun on her heel and strode for the double doors, the wide skirt of her dress not impeding her movement in the slightest.
"Er-Erin?" she heard Warp's voice call behind her. She ignored it.
The corridor beyond was dimly lit and empty. She turned right and broke into a run.
Warp, Hayden, Warp, Hayden, Warp, Hayden, liar, no, no, no, no…
She finally halted at an enormous viewport and sagged against the cold transparisteel. As she stared at the pockmarked Moon below and the infinite night sky above, a plea flew heavenward. God, why Warp?
Briefly, her eyes closed.
God, why…
Buzz turned to Warp, blue eyes dark and narrow. "Warp, what was that all about?"
"A mistake," Warp replied tersely, pushing past the captain. "I'll find her."
"Warp—"
Warp spun around to face Buzz, his own blue eyes a roiling storm. "I'll fix it. Promise." For once in his life, he meant it, too.
And Buzz must have seen it. He sighed and shook his head. "Go."
Warp nodded sharply and turned, threading his way through the crowd. He heard the princess say, "Shouldn't we…"
"Ehhh, nooo," Buzz said slowly. "Whatever's going on, they have to work it out for themselves." Just on the edge of hearing, Warp caught Buzz adding, "Though my heart is going to be in my throat the whole time…"
Warp almost smirked at that. Almost.
It took a while, but he eventually found her leaning against a viewport, framed by the Moon and the stars. She was hugging herself and staring at her feet, looking small, lonely, and vulnerable.
For the first time in a long time, Warp felt guilty.
"I… guess there were better ways I could have broken it to you," he said quietly, stopping a few feet from her.
She didn't look up. "Probably. End result would be the same, though."
"What end result is that?"
"I would still hate you." Her voice was thick.
"You don't mean that."
"Yes, I do." Her head snapped up, brown eyes blazing. "You lied to me—you played with my heart. You knew you were."
Warp took a step closer. "That wasn't what I wanted."
"No?" Bitterness replaced the threat of tears. "You didn't want a new toy to play with?"
Warp's own eyes blazed in time with the anger that sprang up inside. "Don't you ever say that again," he hissed. "Don't you even think it."
She shrank back further against the transparisteel, her eyes wide, fear shining past the resentment. "Hurts to be compared to other criminals, does it?" she whispered.
Warp wanted very much to slap her. With effort, he kept his real hand clenched into a fist at his side. "You should try it sometime, see how you like it."
"No thanks." She was still scared.
Warp exhaled explosively and raked his claw through his blue-black hair. "Look, Erin, I'm not gonna hurt you. I won't."
A visible shudder ran through her slender body, and she ran her hands up and down her bare arms to warm them. "I don't believe you."
Warp's eyes narrowed. "If I'd wanted to hurt you, I would've done it already."
"Then why—"
"It was stupid," he said in a rush.
"Uh-huh."
He sighed. "I was… curious."
She stared at him incredulously. "…Curious?"
"Yes!" Frustrated, Warp growled and turned half away. "This kid, this eighteen-year-old girl from the past shows up, gets hurt, and suddenly becomes important to Star Command's top Rangers. More than that, Buzz Lightyear willingly adopts the kid as his sister." He whirled back around to face Erin. "Do you have any idea how big that is? Any at all? Buzz isn't the affectionate type—he never had any siblings, he doesn't even know how to properly handle girls! The man's practically a sociopath! We used to joke about how he'd never settle down with a family, just because he had no idea how to! And here you waltz into his life and just—just steal his heart, and—and—and… that's big! Y'know?"
With his tirade winding down, his next words came out much more quietly. "I was curious."
Erin just stood there, gaping at the man, unsure of what to say or how to react. His chest heaved from more emotion than she figured he usually revealed, his eyes stared at the floor, and his real hand absently rubbed the back of his neck.
She wanted to believe his explanation, because she still wanted to like him, even though she still kind of hated him, but something about it felt off. Then it clicked. The park. How could he have known… "Were you stalking me?" she asked harshly.
His head jerked up. "What? No! I mean, I was in the area so that I could bump into you sometime, but I don't think that counts as—"
"Then how did you know I was going to the park?"
Comprehension dawned over his face. "That. Oh. Well, that, actually, was pure luck. I was just out for a walk, and that park…" His face became unreadable, and his voice flat. "Well, that's where my parents used to take me when I was a kid." Pause. "I wasn't lying when I told you that was my old neighborhood."
Erin nodded slowly, digesting that. After a few moments, she pushed herself up and away from the viewport. "I'd better get back," she said determinedly. "Buzz will worry."
She brushed past him and went a few paces before hearing her name called. She stopped without turning. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
She wondered if he realized just how much she wanted to keep on liking him. "Whatever," she said flippantly. As she walked away, she hoped it stung.
When she reached the observatory, Erin found Zurg dancing slowly and jerkily to Ravel's Boléro, blissfully unaware of the tittering laughs he was triggering from the guests. Eyes wide, she strode over to Mira and hissed in a whisper, "Is he drunk?"
"Kinda looks that way," Mira whispered back, her own cerulean eyes wide. "So what happened?"
"Beg pardon?"
"You. Warp. What?"
"Complicated. Later."
Mira sighed grumpily and motioned Buzz over. "So, Buzz, what are we gonna do?"
"I'm not sure," he said, his eyes wandering and then locking on to something. Erin turned to follow his gaze…
And quickly turned back.
"Aw, man," she heard Warp mutter behind her.
"What in the galaxy is he doing?" Buzz murmured.
Warp came into her line of vision, folding his mismatched arms over his broad chest. "You'd never believe it."
"Give us a little credit, Warp," Mira advised. "We deal with weird stuff all the time."
The man shook his head. "Still say you won't believe it."
Erin was significantly tempted to ask, but she was also in her I'm-not-talking-to-this-person mode, so she said nothing. She didn't have to. Mira made a noise of frustration and exploded, "Aww, c'mon, what's it gonna take—my holding a blaster to your head?"
"Are good guys allowed to do that?" Warp asked in mock-astonishment.
"Warp!"
Warp threw up his hands in surrender. "All right, all right!" He sighed loudly. "It was Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins, caramel popcorn, Starbucks, and Bing Crosby albums."
In spite of herself, Erin nearly choked on her laughter. "Mary Poppins and Bing Crosby? You're kidding!"
Buzz's eyes were wide, and Erin wondered what was going on in that brain of his. "I wish he was."
Warp looked galaxy-wearier than ever. "Yeah. 'Nother chemical imbalance—hate it when that happens."
Buzz nodded miserably.
Erin and Mira traded looks. "Wait a sec, wait a sec," said Mira. "Buzz, you're saying you've seen Zurg like this before?"
"Erm, once. A few years back. Warp 'n' I—" he froze, collected himself, and continued—"Warp and I had gotten into the Zurg Tower to retrieve a piece of Star Command technology. It was the only time Zurg wasn't on the ball during an incident." Buzz turned a penetrating look towards his former partner. "Care to explain why, Warp?"
To his credit, a look of alarm passed so swiftly over the other man's aquiline features that Erin might have thought she'd imagined it—if Buzz's eyes hadn't narrowed in response. But it was only a moment, and then Warp's characteristic nonchalant mask was firmly in place. "Why he got a chemical imbalance then? I don't know, Lightyear."
"That's a lie," Buzz said steadily.
Warp edged closer, his posture shifting from casual to combative in split-seconds. "Don't push it," he warned.
Buzz remained unperturbed. "Then I won't. Now. But rest assured, Warp, I will find out, someday."
Warp sighed, his body relaxing. "I'd expect nothing less from you."
Across the room, Zurg dramatically pretended to conduct the band as they finished Boléro, garnering even more laughs from bystanders.
Warp took one glance over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. "Good grief, I'm not his babysitter."
Several giggles erupted from Erin before she could contain them. She gave her stern-faced brother a penitent smile. "Sorry, Buzz."
Warp had motioned a waiter over and was now taking a cocktail. "I don't get paid enough for this," he muttered into his glass, just before he drank.
"You have your own moon, asteroid, and customized yatch," Erin felt compelled to point out.
He shook his head as he downed the glass. "Hon, trust me—that's not enough to cover it."
Erin snorted and shook her head.
Warp held up his empty glass and eyed it speculatively. "I think," he mused, "that I'm going to need another."
Mira arched one elegant eyebrow. "Can't take it sober."
Warp's gaze remained on the glass. "…Nope."
Buzz cast one look at Zurg break-dancing to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and returned his attention to his small group. "Should I assume that any attempt to arrest the both of you would be rendered pointless?" he asked evenly.
"You could assume that," Warp returned in the same even tone, twirling the glass with his fingers.
"And, quite possibly, that my job itself has just been rendered pointless here, since nothing could happen that would be worse than Zurg's gate-crashing?"
"Quite probably."
"And, in that event, it would be safe to have some dinner and simply let it all play out?"
"I do believe it would be."
Buzz nodded sharply. "Right then." He spun on his heel to arrive at Booster's buffet table, Erin and Mira following and Warp close behind them.
The baffled Jo-Adian rookie stared at his captain. "Buzz, what's going on?"
"Don't look at me," Buzz told him tonelessly. "I just work here."
Erin giggled again, some part of her mind suggesting that perhaps she was a bit hysterical this evening, between Warp's revelation and Zurg's sudden lunacy.
XR wheeled over to the group, bearing a camcorder pointed in Zurg's direction. "Hey, guys!"
"Camcorder, XR?" Buzz asked.
"Hey, this'll be worth a fortune when I go to the press," XR replied defensively.
"A fortune?" Warp echoed. "Can I have a copy?"
"Sure!" XR grinned maliciously. "For a small fee, of course."
"Of course," Warp repeated dryly.
"Miniscule, you understand."
"Oh, surely."
"Can't give these things away for free, you know."
"Oh, I agree completely. Moments like these are priceless."
Buzz shook his head—muttering something about robots and crooks—grabbed a plate, and distanced himself from the group, having the distinct look of a man who needs some air.
A couple of minutes later, four Space Rangers, one 21st-century civilian, and one Ranger-turned-criminal were sitting at a table where they had a good view of Zurg—who was now dancing wildly to the end of the Beethoven piece.
"Where're the other Rangers?" Booster wondered.
"I told them all to stay frosty but stand down," Buzz replied. "Be ready just in case Zurg tries something."
"Probably won't," Warp said around a bite of croissant.
"I know—just being careful."
"Yup." Warp turned to Erin. "Enjoying the party, Your Worshipfulness?"
Erin arched both eyebrows in a very aristocratic expression. "Your Worshipfulness?" she echoed.
"Uh-huh." Warp set his elbow on the table and propped his chin on his palm. "Erin was the goddess Ireland was named after. See, Buzz? I know some history."
"No comment," Buzz muttered just before he took a sip of sparkle juice.
"Well, bravo," said Erin, settling back into her seat. "I'm a goddess, hmm?"
"Looking like it from where I'm sitting, Your Worship," Warp said easily.
Before Erin could comment further, Zurg began belting out his own lyrics to The Blue Danube. Warp gave an exasperated sigh and dropped his face into his real hand. Erin laughed. "I have to get his autograph before he leaves," she decided.
Buzz glanced heavenward. "Erin, this is no time for fangirlism."
"This is a perfect time for fangirlism!" she protested. "Fangirls back in my time would have died for a chance like this!"
Mira looked up at the ceiling in thought. "Well, let's see. From what I can remember of the Zurg fangirls, there's EEZ, Cosmik Cataclysm, Blacksteel, MC… Did I miss anybody?"
"Saron," Erin finished.
"Oh yeah, that's right! Saron."
Erin adopted a pose identical to Warp's, her chin on her palm. "Pretty impressive, Mira, that you studied that and remembered it."
Mira giggled. "One: it was a fandom dedicated to us. How could I resist? Two: mostly because I remember thinking how weird it was that all these people were so nuts over Zurg."
Erin laughed, too. "At first, I didn't get it, either, but I came to understand their point of view."
Bemused, Warp glanced between them. "What are you two talking about?"
Mira laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it, Warp—'s complicated."
Erin raised her glass of sparkle juice and looked over the rim at the man, two seats away. "Very complicated."
"Well, well!" a deep voice boomed boisterously. "Getting cozy, are we?"
"Hi, Zurg," all six people at the table greeted in monotone.
"Isn't this party just the bubble in the bath?" Zurg said cheerily, taking the empty seat beside Booster and blissfully oblivious to XR's camcorder.
"Mm, great," Mira deadpanned.
Buzz just folded his arms on the table and dropped his face into them with a quiet groan.
Erin pulled a notebook and pen out of her purse and passed them over to Zurg. "Say, Mr. Evil Emperor, may I please have your autograph?"
"Why, it would be my evil pleasure!" Zurg signed the paper with an overdramatic flourish and returned the notebook and pen to Erin. Beautiful calligraphic writing said: Hope your night is as deliciously evil as mine!—Evil Emperor Zurg
Erin grinned and returned the items to her purse. "Thanks." Remembrance dawned on her, and she looked up to Mira. "Mira, what time is it?"
"Ahhh, it's… 6:58… oh my gosh, you'd better get going!"
"Yeah," Erin nodded, quickly standing and handing her purse and wrap to Mira. "Okay, I'll be back in a little bit, guys!"
"Where's she going?" Booster asked as Erin hurried off.
Mira smiled enigmatically. "You'll see in a minute."
The lights dimmed—effectively quieting conversation—and a spotlight flicked on over center-stage. Warp's jaw dropped as Erin stepped out from the curtains and entered that spotlight. The band struck up a relaxed beat, and the young woman opened her mouth.
She was performing.
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=UAu1pJlu3sI
Ever close your e-yes?
Ever stop and listen?
Ever feel ali-ive
And you're nothin' missin'?
You don't need a-a reason
Let the day go-o on and on
Erin had let go of her American accent for an Irish inflection, and Warp abruptly had the feeling she was imitating another singer, possibly one from her own time.
Let the rain fall do-wn
Everywhere around you
Give into it no-w
Let the day surround you
You don't need a-a reason
Let the rain go-o on and on
What a day! What a day to take to!
What a way! What a way to make it through!
What a day! What a day to take to
A wild child.
Only take the ti-ime
From the helter-skelter
Every day you fi-ind
Everything's in kilter
You don't need a-a reason
Let the day go-o on and on
Every summer su-un
Every winter evening
Every spring to co-ome
Every autumn leaving
You don't need a-a reason
Let it all go-o on and on
What a day! What a day to take to!
What a way! What a way to make it through!
What a day! What a day to take to
A wild child.
Erin repeated the chorus once more before the song ended. As it closed, the audience gave an enthusiastic applause. Camcorder still in hand and filming, XR whistled appreciatively. "Talented little sister you have there, Lightyear," Zurg commented genially. "Wouldn't you say, Darkmatter?"
"Mm," was Warp's only response, focused as he was on the young woman on the stage.
As Erin began the next song, Warp noted that her pitch rose to what he figured was her normal singing pitch.
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=021sLSrNzHM
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold
So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold
Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley?
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold
Warp remembered old myths and fairy tales about sirens and other enchantresses singing and luring brave heroes to their doom. He'd never thought that those stories could actually be realistic.
See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold
I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in fields of gold
We will walk in fields of gold
Erin's roving gaze came to rest on their table, and their eyes met, brown and blue. Something small but vitally important shifted in that moment, and Warp knew—just knew—instinctively that his world would never be the same again.
Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
That we walked in fields of gold
That we walked in fields of gold
That we walked in fields of gold
Erin finally looked away, leaving Warp strangely breathless. He barely heard the claps and whistles. She began to pace the stage slowly as an Irish whistle and harp began to play.
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=_45W-Lq7ftw
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there,
He once was a true love of mine.
Tell him to make me a cambric shirt,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Without no seam nor needlework,
Then he'll be a true love of mine.
There was a beautiful instrumental interlude as Erin paced leisurely, her gaze seldom leaving the audience.
Ask him to find me an acre of land,
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme,
Between the salt water and the sea strand,
Then he'll be a true love of mine.
The music slowed and quieted, and Erin's voice softened, sorrowfully, as she glided to center-stage and stopped. Her gaze once more met Warp's.
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there,
He once was a true love of mine.
The applause was nearly wild this time, and the next song started before the audience quieted.
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=YaqQnhBtxaI
I-I-I-I hear your voice on the wind
And I-I-I-I hear you call out my name
A drum began to softly beat in the background.
Listen, my child, you say to me
I am the Voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call and I'll set… you… free!
A violin began playing.
I am the Voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the Voice of your hunger and pain
I am the Voice that always is calling you
I am the Voice, I will remain
I am the Voice in the fields when the Summer's gone
I dance on the leaves when the Autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep throughout all the cold Winter long
I am the force that in Springtime will grow
There was a brief interlude featuring the violinist, then all instruments but two Celtic drums—bodhráns, Warp's mind supplied—faded away. The drummers played strong beats for the next verse, and Erin's voice returned, deep, ringing, and powerful.
I am the Voice of the Past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the Voice of the Future
Bring me your peace…
Bring me your peace and my wounds
They will heal
The other instruments returned in full force.
I am the Voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the Voice of your hunger and pain
I am the Voice that always is calling you
I am the Voice, I will remain
I am the Voice of the Past that will always be
I am the Voice of your hunger and pain
I am the Voice of the Future
I am the Voice…
The song crescendoed.
I am the Voice…
I am the Voice…
I am the Voice…
I am the Voice~!
Definitely wild applause this time. The band began a softer, deeper tune, and Warp finally recognized Erin's imitation as the Irish singer Enya.
http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=hhUhiDjID1I
May it be an Evening Star
Shines down upon you
May it be when Darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely Road
Oh, how far you are from Home!
Mornië utúlië [Darkness has come]
Believe, and you will find your way
Mornië alantië [Darkness has fallen]
A Promise lives within you now
Erin's gaze returned to her table, searing with intensity, resting on Warp, Buzz, and Mira. In that moment, it seemed as if she was singing for them alone.
May it be the Shadow's call
Will fly away
May it be your journey on
To light the Day
When the Night is overcome
You may rise to find the Sun
Mornië utúlië [Darkness has come]
Believe, and you will find your way
Mornië alantië [Darkness has fallen]
A Promise lives within you now
A Promise lives within you now
This time, the applause was a complete standing ovation. Erin's brown eyes sparkled even as her cheeks flushed. She curtsied and disappeared behind the curtains as the applause continued. A minute later, she was back at their table.
Warp was ready for her, with her chair pulled out, and she sank into it with obvious relief. "Thanks, Warp," she breathed, and exhaled hard. "Thank God that's over," she murmured.
"You okay?" Booster worried.
"Just a case of stage fright," the girl replied, panting and placing her hand over her heart. "No biggie."
"Stage fright?" Buzz echoed. "Must've been good acting."
Erin nodded, her head tilted back and her eyes closed. "Heart's still pounding a mile a minute."
Buzz shook his head, grinning. "Well, you were fantastic."
"'Fantastic,' nothing!" Zurg scoffed. "That was stunning, flawless, magnificent!—how'd you like to come sing on Friday nights?"
Erin laughed and straightened in her seat. "No thanks." She noticed the slender goblet of wine at her place. "What's this?"
"I, uh, ordered it for you," Warp explained. "Thought you might be thirsty after that performance."
Erin smiled ruefully. "Warp, I'm underage."
…Oh yeah. Sheesh, did he ever feel like a moron. "Oh… right. Sorry about that."
She shook her head, smiling slightly. "It's okay. Someone else can have it. Thanks, though."
He shrugged it off. "Hey, it was a thank you for the performance." His voice quieted. "That really was great."
She looked briefly disconcerted. "Thank you."
He leaned back and studied her—really studied her. Her rich brown curls cascaded around her sharply-defined face and down to her waist—a waist, he noted, that was not as painfully thin as the first time he'd met her. The makeup was minimal, and though she wasn't anywhere close to Mira's level of beauty, Erin Frame was decidedly attractive in her own way. There was something childish in her full lips but mature in her dark eyes—a girl who'd had to grow up abruptly. The forest green shimmersilk dress was designer work, form-fitting but with a neckline high enough to preserve her modesty well. Her jewelry consisted of a pair of rhinestone earrings, a necklace with a pendant in the form of a Star of David and an icthus together, and a Celtic-looking ring.
"Don't look at me like that," she murmured.
Warp noted that the others were preoccupied with a classic Zurg "evil childhood memory" before replying. "Like what?"
"That. Stop it."
One corner of his mouth pulled back. "Why?"
"It makes me feel uncomfortable," she said bluntly.
That corner pulled back further. "Sorry, Your Worshipfulness."
The lights brightened marginally, and the band struck up a dance number that Erin didn't recognize. Mira glanced over her shoulder at the band, then turned to Erin with a grin. "Let's see if you get any offers now, after that performance," she whispered.
Erin grinned back. "I'm not holding my breath." Mira frowned suddenly at something behind Erin, who twisted in her seat to find Warp standing there and looking almost… nervous.
"May I, uh, have the pleasure of this next dance?"
Erin's mouth answered before her brain caught up with it. "You may." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her brother smack his forehead with his palm.
Warp bowed slightly and moved back towards his seat. Erin scooted closer to Mira so that only the older woman could hear her. "Did I just accept a dance with Mr. Darkmatter?"
Mira laughed quietly, recognizing the line. "I daresay you'll find him agreeable."
Erin managed to look properly horrified. "But that will be most inconvenient since I've sworn to loathe him for all eternity."
The girls glanced once at each other and broke down into giggles.
"Oh mother of Venus!" Erin gasped quietly before giggling again.
"Is this night weird or what?" Mira nodded.
"Oh boy." Erin looked down at the floor and exhaled, her mirth dissipating. "Mira, it's more than weird. Remember when I told you about Hayden Shaw?"
"Hayden Shaw…" It took Mira all of three seconds to process it, and her eyes went very round. "Sweet mother of Venus…"
"Yeah." Erin wrapped her arms around herself. "I told him I hated him for that."
Mira blinked. "Do you still?"
"I'm… not sure. I don't want to," the younger woman admitted ruefully, "but at the same time, well… I'm sure you've figured out by now that I can hold grudges."
"I've noticed that, yeah," Mira said dryly.
"I'm… I'm torn, Mira," Erin blurted. "I want to hate him, and at the same time, I… I want to like him."
"Oh boy." Mira ran a hand through her red hair, glancing at the floor. "Erin, I… I honestly don't know what to say, other than be careful."
Erin nodded slowly. "I plan on it."
When the next dance started up, Warp stood, and Erin quickly followed suit. Neither made a move to hold the other's hand as they silently moved out to the dance floor. He took her left hand in his claw and lightly placed his real hand on her waist. Her right hand rested on his shoulder.
At first, Erin felt more than a little awkward, but her far more experienced partner led her so smoothly that she was reminded of the phrase "tripping the light fantastic." She tried to clear her mind of cognitive thought and simply move with Warp to the music. It wasn't easy, and after two minutes, she felt she had to speak up or burst.
"I was a last-minute substitution," she murmured.
"Come again?"
"I was a last-minute substitution," she repeated. "For the performance."
"Really?" She quickly looked away from his appreciative smile. "Didn't sound like it."
"We practiced over and over from one to four o'clock," she said with a short laugh.
Warp nodded. "You were good. You should try out for Andromeda Records."
"Mira told me about them—I'd like that."
"And forget Star Command?" She looked up sharply to meet his suddenly expressionless gaze.
"Not in the slightest," she said firmly. "I said I was going to be a Space Ranger, and I'm sticking to it. Y'know, that conversation makes a whole lot more sense now."
A grimace passed swiftly over his aquiline features. "I'll bet." A beat. "I'm sorry. That was a dumb thing to say."
"It was," she returned a bit more harshly than she'd meant. Then she hung her head. "I'm sorry."
"We can kiss and call it even."
Not looking up, she choked out a strangled laugh. "Not funny, hotshot."
His husky voice was quiet this time. "Erin, really. I'm sorry."
They danced for another minute in silence before Erin murmured, "I forgive you."
Buzz Lightyear was about ready to commit suicide. Or homicide.
That latter option was looking more appealing with every childhood prank the Evil Emperor Zurg was relating to his unwilling listeners.
Buzz's adopted sister was still dancing with his former partner, and at the start of the last song, XR had handed Booster the camcorder and asked Mira for a dance. Buzz suspected that she'd agreed just to get away from their insane archenemy, but XR had lit up like Capitol Square on New Year's Eve.
And now Mira seemed to be enjoying herself.
Buzz's chest tightened, and he had no idea why. He watched as Mira and XR returned to their table, Mira apparently needing a drink. XR kept up a constant stream of chatter, so fast that Buzz could hardly make out what he was saying—something about the dance, he thought. Finally, Mira held up a hand as she downed a glass of water, and the little 'bot fell obligingly silent.
Thank goodness, Buzz thought, and stood. "Uhh, Ranger Nova? May I have this next dance?"
Booster froze, and XR's jaw dropped to his chassis. Mira herself seemed a little taken aback. "I, uh, I-I, uh, sh-sure! Yeah, that'd be great!"
Buzz tamped down the odd sensation of irritation (and hurt) and smiled, proffering his copilot his arm. "Shall we?"
Mira blinked and linked her arm in his, allowing him to guide her back to the dance floor. He felt the other two Rangers' eyes glued to them the whole time, and smirked a little. Hey, he never said he couldn't be a gentleman.
They assumed a classic waltz position and began to sway gently to the music.
Someday
When I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow
Just thinking of you
And the way you look
Tonight
"Hey, lookit," Warp whispered, jerking his head to the left.
Erin followed his line of sight and almost gaped at the sight of her brother and her roommate dancing together. Then her face lit up in a wide grin. "Oh, wow," she breathed.
"We could be in-laws before the night is over," Warp murmured.
Erin laughed, recognizing the line from an old movie classic. "Fantastic."
Mira was so close. Buzz's heart was beating quicker, and he felt light-headed. He now understood what drowning felt like.
In an effort to relax, he opened his mouth to speak… but it wasn't conversation that came out.
Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me
But to love you
Just the way you look
Tonight
Mira stared incredulously at her captain. "B-Buzz?"
He could sing?
More than that, he was singing to her?
He, much calmer already, just smiled warmly and leaned forward, lightly resting his chin on her shoulder and continuing to murmur the song.
With each word
Your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh
That wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
Mira exhaled slowly, almost melting into his hold. She couldn't remember when she'd felt so completely relaxed, so completely content.
He was still singing.
Yes, you're lovely
Never, ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look
Tonight
"I think this is called 'Convenient Slow Dance,'" Erin remarked quietly.
After a moment, Warp answered. "For who: them or us?"
"Quit flirting or you can find yourself another dance partner!" she hissed in a whisper.
"Okay, okay!"
She laughed silently, too amused to be truly annoyed.
With each word
Your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh
That wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
"Like this song, do you?" Mira murmured.
Yes, you're lovely
Never, ever change
Buzz wasn't sure how to answer. In an old black-and-white film, he might have said something like, "Not half as much as I love you."
He didn't. But he managed to give her a look that wasn't quite a smile but so very warm that it could have melted the ice of Sitka VII.
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it?
He twirled her into his arms, wrapped them around her waist, rested his chin in the hollow of her neck. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his.
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look
Tonight—baby
Just the way you look
Tonight—darlin'
Just the way you look
Tonight
There was insanity.
There was pain.
There was magic.
And, eventually, it all had to end.
Around 10 pm—roughly four hours after Zurg's arrival—the Evil Emperor started coming to. Warp noticed this and knew that party-time was over. "Whoa, big fella," he said in the soothing tone of voice he'd used as a Ranger when dealing with drunks, holding his boss by the shoulders. "C'mon, let's getcha home."
He winked at Buzz. "Catcha later, Lightyear, rookies." His expression sobered as his gaze turned to the girl who'd given him something no one else had—forgiveness. "Goodbye, Erin."
"Vaya con Dios, Warp," she murmured.
He looked down at the floor, knowing enough Spanish to translate the farewell.
"Thanks for the sweeellll… time, Lightyear," Zurg grinned rather drunkenly at Buzz.
"Later, Zurg," Buzz said wearily, his blue eyes flitting over to meet Warp's.
Warp held that gaze evenly for a few seconds, then inclined his head. "See you, Buzz."
"Bye, Warp," the other man whispered.
The doors had shut behind them, and XR had finally pressed stop on the camcorder, turning to his team and grinning. "Man, is this gonna be worth big unibucks!"
Erin smirked a little at the memory, tossing her wrap and purse onto her dresser and flinging herself down on the bed, still dressed. What a completely crazy night. She wondered how Buzz and Mira's dance would affect their relationship—she fervently hoped it would be for the better.
Dear God, thank You for this day…
She was asleep before she'd finished her prayer.
It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
—"The Call," Regina Spektor, Prince Caspian
10.15.10
Author's Note:
Rewriting this one was definitely a work of love. Much more serious and probably not nearly as funny as the original, but I like it much better now. Hope you enjoy it, too, Historian and KJ!
Disclaimers: this chapter is adapted from the short story "Handling" in Calvin Wong's BLoSC fanfic anthology Evil Never Sleeps. I own absolutely none of the songs I've used here. Cookies to anyone who recognizes the quotes the characters use. The Buzz/Mira scene is adapted from a Ships 50 one-shot of mine: "42. Affection." (And yes, "Convenient Slow Dance" is a real term. And Vaya con Dios means "Go with God.")
Please review!