Author's Notes: I think that stressful situations force me to write more. It's the end of term tomorrow, and the only way I receive any bit of peace is by doing something artistic. So thus I finally sat down and finished this chapter. Hopefully there'll be more regular updates. As always, please review! Love you much!
The next morning started out like any other, giving no hint of the extraordinary things that were about to occur.
Buzz and Jessie had to practically drag Woody out of Bo's room to get breakfast. They sat together in the enormous cafeteria, where numerous venues displayed their intergalactic cuisine, many in different languages. Jessie found it extremely exciting to try exotic meals each morning, as long as she didn't question what was inside them. Woody on the other hand barely even touched his food. Jessie took the liberty of choosing his menu each morning. She tried to get him to eat, but wasn't very successful.
As they sat, there was a familiar whir of a motor coming up behind them. Buzz sighed and turned around knowing exactly who had approached. Even for being a robot, XR's body language was clear. He shuffled his conveyor belt feet, and stared at them intently.
"XR… Hey," Buzz started. Woody and Jessie on his left exchanged looks, and wondered if they should exit the vicinity.
"Listen Buzz… I was thinking about what I said the other day, and I haven't been able to sleep well at all. Well, not that I really sleep… because, y'know." XR trailed off. "But the point is, I feel pretty bad for what I said, and I guess I was just letting all the feelings of you leaving catch up to me. I really couldn't be happier for you, and if you want to get married and have little Earth children-"
Buzz's face suddenly went tomato red. "Ah heh right yes XR don't worry about it all is forgiven. Glad we had this talk." The space ranger stole a look at Jessie and Woody, both smirking.
XR didn't seem to notice Buzz attempting to shoo him away. Instead his robotic eyes were glued to Jessie. "Jeez, I really am sorry… Wow."
Buzz sighed and pressed his hand into his face, as XR leaned up against the table grinning. "Bet you're the kind of girl who likes advanced algorithm systems."
"XR!" Buzz hissed.
"What? I'm making it a point to mend my ways! And Earthling or no Earthling, you gotta get my approval. That's what friends are for."
"So you're one of Buzz's buddies?" Jessie asked, once again drawing the robot's attention away from the frustrated ranger. "What's it like being working for Star Command?"
"Oh it's the best! Fighting evil, traveling the universe, couldn't ask for more in my opinion. But I guess I'm a little biased, because every time I get blown apart they just put me back together again. I can afford to be a little more reckless than everyone else. You can just ask Buzz. I'm sure he can remember what it was like…" XR said, sliding his way up on the bench to their table next to Jessie.
Buzz didn't know what he found more upsetting, the fact that XR was getting uncomfortably close to his girlfriend, or that Jessie seemed to be interested in becoming a Ranger. He wished a million times that this moment would just end… and he got his wish.
There was a giant holographic monitor in the cafeteria where urgent messages were played in emergencies. This system was installed in nearly all of the quarters of Star Command. It suddenly flashed on above the doors to enter the cafeteria, with an unfamiliar face popping up. It appeared to be a man, but it was hard to tell any of his facial features because the poor quality of film showed him in a very dark room, and the only thing anyone could pick out was his silhouette.
"Hello Star Command. We don't mean to cause any alarm. We only want to warn you of a dangerous criminal on the rise," his grungy voice boomed from the speakers. Woody, Buzz, and Jessie unanimously stood up quickly, thinking the same thing as a familiar face popped up on the screen. "Her name is the Porcelain Cowgirl, and she has been a threat to many systems throughout the universe, mainly terrorizing Earth. She must be brought to justice. Please send a transmission back alerting us whether you have seen her or not."
The screen disappeared in an instant.
Some resumed their eating, others chatted about it. The trio who knew her immediately left the cafeteria heading straight to the hospital ward. XR was confused and started to follow them trying to ask where they were going or what was going on.
"Does that message play all over the station XR?" Buzz practically shouted as they fought crowds of people going about their business.
"I think so… That kind of system is supposed to be used in emergencies. Why? Who is the Porcelain Cowgirl?" The robot struggled to keep up.
"Check your databases. See if you can find her through Star Command."
XR's eyes went blank for a second, causing chaos in the crowd as most people barely ducked out of his way. "There's a file here, but it's restricted. The code doesn't look too hard to break though."
"Do it!" Buzz told him as they reached the medical ward. The same flustered bright yellow skinned nurse didn't even have a chance to speak as Woody charged past her while Buzz and Jessie were close behind.
Woody typed in the code in an instant and opened the door, but the room was empty.
XR finally caught up and whirred into the room. "Buzz! Wait I'm confused. She helped save Star Command, and she's your sick friend? This is all sorts of complicated!"
When the nurse finally made it to the door she had just about had it.
"Where's Bo?" Woody asked frantically.
"Ms. Peep has been relocated. They moved her to Capital Planet," the nurse hissed standing in the doorway.
"How long ago did they leave? They could've gotten far…" Jessie said somewhat timidly sensing the tension in the room.
"I don't know, and I suggest you leave this instant," she replied emphasizing every word.
"I can arrange a transit, but the next shuttle doesn't leave for another half hour," Buzz checking his wrist on his suit.
"No need for that Ranger…" called out a voice in the hall. "You can ride with me." A familiar face poked past the nurse.
"Dad!" XR cried.