Disclaimer: I don't own the BLoSC series or the movie. Enjoy!
Chapter 11
Adventure Out
The Empire's main hangar, a place where all the massive ships of destruction are docked and repaired. Among the masses of dreadnoughts, there is one ship that is smaller than the rest. Similar in design and size as the Space Ranger's Star Cruiser except for the colors: purple, black and grey.
On the side of the ship is a Z embossed in yellow and surrounded by dark grey frame, which is being dismantled by the small team of Grubs.
Zyra, now 18 years-old, look over the scene as Grub teams are doing their maintenance routine on the cruiser. In a matter of minutes, she will soon be out in space, filling her with excitement.
And the right time to test out her new and improved space suit in action.
Her body armor suit design derived from the Star Command's issued wear with a button on the left side that activates a jetpack along with glider wings. But the suit appears to be more evil kind of look than its counterpart.
The sharp shoulder pads, elbow length gloves and boots in grey and her durable black cat-suit underneath the armor, showing off her athletic and slender body, able to withstand any supernova short blasts. The suit has a built in space bubble but she preferred to wear her two horned grey helmet with black face screen, emitting two glowing red eyes.
"Don't you look so menacing, starlight!"
Zyra stilled but soon relax as she eyed her father coming up to her with a Brain Pod at his side.
Her digital red eyes blinked and uttered a question in confusion.
"Father, Aren't you supposed to be monitoring the weapon transport to Loidbriz-Lor?"
Loidbriz-Lor is located in the Beta Quadrant Sector 8, few lightyears away from the Zeta Quadrant. The planet is under a civil war between two factions. One who favour on joining the Galactic Alliance and those who oppose it.
Hence, why the opposition team requests for more weapon arms to aid in their resistance.
"I leave that task to one of the Brain Pods. It is bound to be a failed delivery anyway," Zurg respond nonchalantly, "Those Lor people don't always pay on time."
With the war going on and their resources almost depleted, there's no way they can pay it up in advance but it's not my business. Zyra thought while checking the list again before handing it over to a Grub. They'll eventually give up and decided to join for their sake.
"Besides," Zurg continued," what's more important is to see my daughter's first journey to outer space…on her own..."
That last part was said in a whisper but she caught on it.
"You do realize Desmond will be coming with me, right?"
"Ah Of course! Your robot henchman. Certainly one worthy as your guard," Zurg said as he saw Desmond boarded the cruiser with two metal boxes in each arm.
"I think you should add more personnel, starlight. A Brain Pod or two would be fine. Grab a Grub…," Zurg laughed at that, "Haha get it? Grab a Grub? Or maybe a squadron of Hornets-"
"Don't need any of them," Zyra replied immediately, "Desmond is all I need."
"Oh…well what about your food supplies and medi-packs?, "Zurg asked tensely, "Should I bring in some chefs and doctors on board?"
Zyra retorted with pride, "I'm fully capable of making my own food and I have already learn to do first aid with-"
Zurg cut her off with his next query, "How about we add those new turbo engine modules I got the other day? They are top of the market~."
"…Dad…"
"Suit yourself then," Zurg shrugged as he moved to the side to look at her ship.
There are times that she can easily read Zurg's intentions like an open book but often times it was difficult and this is one of those time. She can't quite understand him. They had both discuss about this beforehand and he was okay with her going to space.
Zyra observe him suspiciously as he inspect the small cruiser with a frown.
"Hmm…Sweetie, do you really have to pick this one?," Zurg gestures his hand to the other ships, "There's plenty more warships for you to command and look at that mega ray gun on top of this one!"
Zyra sighed exasperately, "Dad, I'm quite sure that everyone in the galaxy knows who owns them just by looking at it!"
Seeing him fretting over the little things amass an annoying headache, until she become fully aware of what Zurg is trying to do.
He's trying to delay my take off.
She was positively steaming mad as Zurg goes on and on with his unnecessary jabber.
Zurg gasped in horror, "I almost forgot about the safety system module! We can't let you lift off if its damage! You there! Have the maintenance team here on the double–"
"DAD!"
The shout echoed the entire hangar, leaving few others stunned and a bunch of Grubs from above look down at the drama below.
"I'll be fine. I already got everything checked out." Zyra said while looking at her father with hands on her hips, "Look. I know that you are worried about me, always keep in mind of my safety and I appreciated that. But I'm an adult now. I want to see different places and explore the cosmos. I can't always remain here for the rest of my life, living in this safety net will not help me grow more that I could become."
As much as she didn't want to use this, but Zurg has to know that she means serious business.
"I think…I think mom would want that for me."
The Emperor went quiet at that last remark and breathed slowly, eyes flickering briefly away from her while reminiscing the times he spent with his beloved Cassandra. They had truly known so little about one another back then. How can a small incident of a space craft crash-landing into the planet would lead them to fall in love.
"…Dad…," Zyra said firmly as she proceed to hug him, trying to get his attention.
The tactic worked and Zurg now seeing his little girl all grown up, he could practically see her strong resemblance to Cassandra. How her adventurous side shone brighter and the wit that out clash anyone, even himself which brings back fond memories.
Zurg shown a broad smile.
"Alright…Alright," Zurg return her hug gesture by patting her head, "You know I can't help it and you're right."
The Emperor break away and straighten up, "Just…always keep in touch every now then. Promise me that."
"I promise." Zyra smirked.
"Good," Zurg made a shooing motion, "Now off you go, starlight. But remember! You are a princess! You don't let others dictate your actions and if you see something that interests you, take it by force if you have to!"
As Zyra boarded the cruiser, she looked back at her father and waved as the hatched door closes with a loud click.
With the clearance from the ground team and from the main control room, the cruiser's engines roared and exited to the hangar entrance.
Dust clouds from the blast off did not bother the Emperor as he silently stared at the cruiser until it faded and disappeared among the red hue sky.
"Ah…I miss her already." Zurg said solemnly.
Over the years, he had observe how his daughter busy herself. He is still not quite sure if this how any first time parents should educate their children by letting them traverse on their own and learn by themselves. But even he as a child was already far advance in his age and didn't need much help. So there is no use mulling over it.
Another thing that interests him was how she quickly got some workers from different sections to her side and do her bidding, making his evil heart swell in pride.
Her skills of net-working still needs improvement he thought and how to handle if one would dare betray and disclose secrets to anyone.
It didn't take much effort to get that information from one of his Grubs from the culinary department. They are more deathly afraid of him than his own child.
He did questioned before as to why there are less stocks of his favorite snack.
But other departments do well in keeping their mouths shut despite the looming threats he throws at them. That made him frustrated and happy, it means that his little girl is on the right track in becoming the next emperor.
She just need more training on politics and detect any suspicious activity from…the unsavoury ones. Mainly those who have their greedy eyes on his empire. That would really leave a bad taste and him fuming in anger.
He wouldn't let anyone not of his blood seat on the throne unless they get through to him first. Those fools need to know their place or face the full repercussions of his rage.
It is indeed the right time for his little bird to leave the nest and finely honed her skills. As well as how to take control of any situation to her advantage and leaved others to suffer.
Her fighting expertise were phenomenal. The proficiency and accuracy to perform every combat styles from various planets are far beyond anyone he knew could pull it off…which includes two measly space rangers whom he grew to hate overtime.
Stellaris Luna and her protegee, Buzz Lightyear.
Especially Buzz Lightyear!
That rookie buffoon had cause him more trouble than his teacher!
Just thinking about him made Zurg grit his teeth harder but paused for a moment.
"Hold on… just where did my little girl learn those moves from?, Zurg spoke mostly to himself, " They seem to be so familiar to me..."
Did she by chance get those data footages of him fighting numerous space rangers in hand-to-hand combat? Well, he was a great fighter back in his youth but now he has to relay on robotic enhancements to make up for it.
"Hmm...it is possible…," Then Zurg smiled as he leave the hangar area, "but I'm still proud of my baby girl anyway and I know my beloved would too if she were alive."
Somewhere in the outer space of Zeta Quadrant, Desmond piloted the cruiser across the sea of darkness. Zyra entered the brig and sat beside the dark blue robot.
She was beginning to relax in her seat, shoulders no longer feel the pressure of keeping up with the appearance. Her constant efforts and vigilance has finally paved way to the thing that she loved and missed the most: freedom.
She is finally free from the 24/7 paranoia of being expose as someone from another world in her own home planet. But it was thanks to that said fear that she was avoid any inconveniences.
As much as Zyra grew to love her new family, she still finds it difficult to stay cautious around those who quite knew her well. Like Brain Pod 32 for one. That pod was so close to finding her secret tabloid device in the packing process had she not told him to leave the sealed metal boxes to Desmond while he gathers notes of all alien species planets.
That important red tablet, which contains all the plots of the series, is now sealed in a vault deep within the confines of her mini laboratory built in the cruiser and only her biometrics can unlock them.
She'll make sure that its security is absolutely unhackable.
For now, Zyra turned her attention to the monitor in front of her. Switching on the console, the monitor display a short cut route to her first destination which is located in the Gamma Quadrant.
Desmond glanced at the coordinates briefly before resuming his focus in front.
"Master," He asked in a steady tone, "…is there a logical reason as to why…that place…marks as our primary objective?"
Zyra simply answered, "Yes. I want to see if the rumours are true."
Originally they were supposed to travel to a planet where they can get legal access to Capital Planet through illegal means but since this destination is nearby, it's worth a detour.
Her alarm rang in her watch, stating 11:45am.
Zyra cursed while she enlarged the charter map and set it on the side of the main screen, "Desmond, take us there through maximum hyperspace!"
"As you command, Master."
The cruiser is set to hyperdrive, gathering energy that sunder cause and effect as the warping commence. Travelling through it without precise calculations could send them right through a star or bounce too close a supernova.
Luckily the world she is in doesn't have that flaw and the ship thrust immediately through streams of light, to its destined space.
Readings from the monitors affirm that they have passed by a Molbeckkam Nebula, one of the few enormous cloud of dust and gas acting as a nursery for new stars. Zyra save the image of the bright blinding light and a hue of purple gases around the edges, marvelled at its beauty.
As the last hypermolecule lights dispersed, they arrived at an open space, save for one small space station.
A titular out space diner with a huge sign above.
Cosmo's Cosmic Diner.
They landed on a free parking space, touched down with a few dust clouds.
"Whew! We made it," Zyra cheered and looked around her, "Just before the lunch rush starts."
She instantly left the brig, fast walking through a series of corridors and headed towards to the exit door. Just before exiting the cruiser, she removed her helmet and revealing her short black hair styled upwards.
Having too many incidents of her long hair stuck or pulled during spars, Zyra had her hair cut short for practical reason, much to the dismay of her father's cries "Your long beautiful hair!"
Its not like anyone would recognize her face or anything related to the Evil Emperor Zurg but she will only reveal her face just this one time.
Activating the space bubble around her head, she depart the cruiser and made her way to the diner. The diner itself screamed retro feels, the nostalgia almost stunned her. Next to the two metallic doors lays a huge poster, vibrant yellow that catches anyone's eye.
BUY ONE! GET ONE FREE! COSMIC CHILI! ONLY FOR TODAY!
So it is true. How fortunate. Zyra thought.
If they had not proceed with the detour, she would have missed a once in a lifetime opportunity of a sweet deal.
Entering the stellar diner, the air pressurizer above activated around her, Zyra stared at the interior design with fascination.
The vintage style matches well with the advance technology, a long sit-down counter with direct service from the cook and booths on the other side.
Many patrons were busy to themselves, most of them happily eating strange variety of meals and one individual caught her eye, a green alien with a chef's hat is cleaning a glass with his left cyber prosthetic arm. The owner of the famous diner.
Said owner looked up from his cleaning and greet the newcomer with a bright smile.
"Welcome to Cosmo's Cosmic Diner!" He beckoned her to an empty seat near him.
"The name's Cosmo, at your service! So what can I get you, lass?"
Zyra sat and quickly say, "I'll have one Cosmic Chili discount deal to go please."
Cosmo happily received the order, "Okay, coming right up! Give me five minutes." He scurry away behind the kitchen doors while Zyra look up on the small monitor above to watch the news.
A young blonde man in a snazzy purple suit with a gem shaped neck clasp appeared.
"Good day, citizens of Capital Planet. Brent Starkisser here reporting to you live in the main plaza for a special awarding ceremony. You heard him through a lot of stories of his efforts to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg's nefarious schemes, the pride of the Star Command and the apprentice of the famous Stellaris Luna. The Buzz Lightyear."
Both Buzz and Commander Nebula come into sight on the platform in their Space Ranger gears. She could see some gray lines on the Commander's mustache that speaks his growing age.
The Commander began his speech and present a medal in a shape of a sun to Buzz.
"I present to you, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, The Order of A Thousand Suns medal. For your bravery and your valiant efforts to stop crimes and villainy in our galaxy."
Among the rows of Space Rangers in the audiences, she could spot the so-called predecessors of Star Cruiser 42. According to one of her Grub spies, who defected safely and in her command now living in Trade World, told her some insights about the heroic trio.
They have tried to gain some information about the supposed rouge robot who invaded the Star Command space station years ago but to no avail and that frustrated them.
Zyra snickered at their failure. They waste their time for nothing. Ever since Stellaris Luna's retirement, things have been chaotic and numerous Space Rangers were sent out most of the Galactic Alliance partnered planets. But with Buzz Lightyear taking up the mantle, major crime lords started to lay low and few crimes were committed except The Evil Emperor Zurg's evil plots, nothing much has changed.
Most news these days covered the continuance between the only two strong forces in the galaxy.
"Here's your take-out!" Cosmo came back with a plastic bag of the famous Cosmic Chili.
Zyra took it and peered inside, two metallic lunch containers can be seen that comes with two forks. She paid the bill and gave a small salute to the head chef.
"Thanks for the food, Cosmo."
"Happy to serve! Come back anytime!"
Zyra quickly exited the diner and boarded the cruiser. She really like Cosmo, not only for his open mindedness on whoever enters his restaurant, Space Rangers or villains as long as they enjoy eating his food and pay up without foul play, but rather his past career.
Cosmo was once a mercenary merchant, dealing mostly with weapons before settling down and opening his own restaurant. Space authorities during his time were lax and they didn't mind the ex-merchant setting up a diner and they do not suspect anything illegal in the business…except…If small time villains can't pay their meals, they would bargain him with small gadgets or weapons, out of sight from the Rangers of course.
But with the changes of intergalactic rules and strictness of the current Galactic Alliance propaganda, he stopped doing those trade-ins and started to do his honest work as a chef who loves to serve food.
In the brig, Zyra swiftly settle in her seat and began to open her lunch box while Desmond started the engines to head towards their main destination. She set aside the extra box for later and went for the other one.
Her nose filled with the scent of the perfectly blended spices and herbs, making her mouth water.
Zyra lifted her fork and took a bite of the chili and the flavour burst in, discovering that Zurg wasn't bragging about its deliciousness for nothing.
Its piquant, hot, fiery burning taste of spices fill her with delight. The mystery meat mixed in it was so soft, it melted right away as soon as she put it in her mouth and by taking it in with the orange savoury flakes, it is now packed to the brim with all of its flavours.
It truly lives up to its name, the experience was cosmic.
This would put anyone's gourmet to shame, even her own planet's cuisine.
Within the Z Tower, a Brain Pod with a chef's hat was busy cooking for a lunch menu when he suddenly sneezed out violently.
He whipped his eyes around angrily, trying to catch whoever is talking about him. All the servants were focus on their own tasks, leaving him confused as he use the spatula to scratch his dome head.
With an empty box and a satisfied sigh, Zyra dispose it in the trash bot.
"Now with that one item off my bucket list, let's head to the next place…"
An image of a deep blue planet pop up on the screen and a small picture on the side a large city with tall metallic buildings on a small island, surrounded by oceans and few mountain ranges.
The one that is deemed as the criminal capital of the entire Gamma Quadrant.
"Trade World!"
Author's Note: Thank you all for your reviews!
I know that some of you may ask why Zurg didn't suspect a spy in his throne room. Because Zurg, being the loving father he is, would never imagine his daughter to plant a spy there but that one Grub from Chapter 5 is indeed an undercover agent of Zyra.
Also few planets or stars mentioned in this chapter is based from the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride map in United States Disneyland.
Anyways, thanks again and see you in the next chapter. Adieu~