To Infinity and Beyond

To Infinity and Beyond

Episode 03: Betrayal

This story is a Fan fiction, and only for free entertainment purposes.

Team Lightyear looked down at the dark planet. Its blood red color betrayed what kind of evil lay ahead. Even though Buzz hated to admit it, even he did not feel at ease when looking upon this dark and evil planet. You could simply cut the tension that was on Star Cruiser 42. At this moment, they were still undetected, but it could all change in a matter of a second.

XR carefully rolled closer. He looked from one side to the other. “Ehm… Buzz?” He started with a voice filled with suspicion. “Would you like some coffee?” His face suddenly changed. “I think we’ve run out of coffee, but don’t worry, I heard they still have coffee at Cosmo’s Bar!” He rolled at the door. “I’ll get it for you!”

“XR…” Buzz only sighed annoyed, clutching the steering wheel as if it would flee if he would let it go.

XR rolled back at his place, with arm crossed and a face filled with annoyance. “You’d think that after all this time, they would know more than just my name…” And sulking he sat down (yes, robots can sulk! At least XR can.)

Mira looked at Buzz. “Well, what’s the plan? We can’t wait here forever, can we?”

Buzz looked determent at the screen. “We fly in, get Nané, and fly out.”

“But we’ll get detected!” Booster worried.

“Zurg can detect me for all I care!” Buzz mumbled.

“I have a feeling someone in this room is making this personal.” XR used an arrow with lights to point at Buzz.

“Oh, it is personal!” Buzz admitted. “This is between me and Warp!”

Booster looked at Mira, who shared his worries, while he played with his fingers. “I just hope we are not too late…” He said to her. “What if Warp or Zurg has hurt her?”

“You can’t hide from me, little rubber-ducky-man!” The voice was bright, as Warp ran through the main control room. “Why don’t you just give it up and fight like a real number 2!” Nané used her Power Suit to chase Warp all through the castle and control rooms. Oh, how she enjoyed this! Chasing around Star Command’s biggest traitor, and seeing how he was so beyond her powers, suit and skills. Using her armour to almost shoot him (and occasionally hitting some controls or Grubs, but who cared about that?), it could be best described as that Nané had the best time of her life.

Zurg sat on his throne and enjoyed a drink. “How adorable.” He sighed amused. “The things mind control can give you. And within moments, the ship will be ready, and we can leave for Star Command. Oh glorious day; today I will win; Star Command will be destroyed. Buzz Lightyear will be destroyed!!”

Warp dove behind the throne and peeked around the corner. “Evil Emperor Zurg, I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but are you really sure it’s wise to go this soon?”

Zurg wasn’t impressed. “She is at our side, isn’t she?”

“I’m not so certain about that!” Warp exclaimed while diving away from another of Nané’s clean shots. The throne was smouldering slightly, but neither Zurg nor Nané seemed to care about the destruction the little sixteen year old girl caused.

“Nané!” Zurg suddenly called her, and the girl turned around, showing green innocent eyes. “Playtime is over; it’s time to do what you are hypnotised for.”

Nané came to him and bowed. “As you wish, my evilness in purple.”

Zurg smiled, and patted her on the head, ruffling through her hair. “Good, good.” He smiled. “It’s time to go.” Then he turned around, as Nané fixed her hair once more. She seemed to be annoyed by the fact her hair was messed up. “Hold on… why did you mention the purple?”

Nané looked shocked. “That’s because… because… purple stands for royalty!”

“Oh… I knew that!” Zurg replied and laughed it off, while Nané had trouble keeping her lunch in. She even did a fake throw-up move, but when Zurg turned around, it was as if there was a hypnotised angelic demon standing behind him. “Did you hear that?” He asked, but Nané shook her head in confidence.

Zurg walked through the corridors, followed by Nané, who was followed by Warp. There was no chance in life Warp would walk in front of Nané, no matter how often she promised she wouldn’t hurt him… much any more.

The Grubs did everything they could to get Zurg’s impressive Star Ship ready for take off. “Oh, joyous victory!” Zurg exclaimed so sudden both Nané and Warp were startled. “Today I will finally be the Evil Emperor I’ve dreamed off.” Already Warp and Nané were not impressed any more. “It makes you think… when I succeed… destroying Star Command, killing Buzz Lightyear… then there will be nothing left to stop me!” When he looked at Nané and Warp, they were both nodding agreeing. “That means there will be no challenge left… it will take the joy out of conquering galaxies… don’t you think?” Both Nané and Warp tried to evade the answer. “Maybe I shouldn’t do this…” Again Warp and Nané evaded the answer. “Of course not!” The Emperor answered his own question. “Ho, ho, ho! I’m so evil, I am scaring myself!” Zurg kept on laughing and laughing, while Nané poked Warp.

“Is he always like that?”

“Mostly on a Sunday.” Warp answered, and seemed to have forgotten about Nané’s destructive behaviour towards him… until a wicked smile replaced the face of the purple haired girl, and Warp had a sudden urge to hide again.

Space Cruiser 42 boldly landed on the roof of Zurg’s castle. Carefully, all came out and checked if everything was safe. “Buzz… are you sure?” Booster had to ask.

“Yes, I am!” Buzz snapped. “We haven’t been detected yet, and Zurg won’t suspect our ship to be on the top of his castle!”

“I don’t know…” Mira doubted. “Maybe we should have asked Commander Nebula for assistance. I’m certain he would have given us some other equipment. Like, I don’t know… a back up team in case our ship does get detected and we end up stuck on a hostile planet… ALONE.”

“Am I the only one who sees his life flashing by? (My, what a boring one).” XR complained. “I rather have some crazy energy draining vampire, or a psycho clone or… wait a sec, cancel that, I’d rather be at home!” He looked around, as his team members proceeded inside the building. “Hey, did you guys hear me? What happened to the usual sighing of my name?”

“Not now XR!” Buzz hissed at him.

XR got ready for battle as well. “Just checking.” He said. “I almost worried you all forgot about me.” He followed his friend inside. “Can someone please tell me why we are doing this again? I mean, we could get all killed! Just think about it.”

“XR!” The team sighed united.

“Just checking.”

Zurg offered Nané a hand to help her up the platform he was standing on. Together they would float inside the ship, and conquer Star Command. This would be the day Universal Peace would be a thing of the past… forever!

“He never asked me to stand beside him…” Warp grumbled annoyed, while following on foot.

Nané looked back and smiled at him. It wasn’t the typical devilish smile she had on her face ever since she was hypnotised, but another type. One that could be closest described as… feeling sorry for him.

“Minions!” Zurg yelled while pointing upwards. Nané plugged her ears quickly, because she just knew his loud voice would ruin her hearing ability. “After today, I shall no longer be Zurg, the Evil Emperor. Then you can call me, Zurg, the very evil Emperor and very, very evil Conqueror!”

“No wonder he’s floating…” Nané mumbled. “All that hot air.”

Zurg lurked at her. “Excuse me?” He hissed close to her face.

“Hail Zurg the Evil Conqueror!” Nané cheered for him quickly.

“How sweet of you!” Zurg hid his face in his hands. “Am I blushing? I should have hypnotised you sooner. You are such a wonderful addition!” Then he pointed at the roof again. “Open the hatch!” He ordered. “Today is the day history shall be re-written. Let’s destroy Star Command!”

“Not in my lifetime!” A voice suddenly called out.

“Who said that?” All turned around. “Buzz Lightyear? How did you get here? Doesn’t matter, you’re too late!”

“It’s never too late for justice!” Buzz called out. “Zurg, I place you under arrest!”

“Oh really?” Zurg acted too dramatically. “Oh, I’m so scared! The big Buzz Lightyear is going to arrest me. What should I do? What should I do?” Suddenly Zurg bellowed to the minions below. “Hornets, attack!”

“Zurg, I’ll…” Warp started.

“No you won’t!” Zurg forbid him. “Just stay there!”

Warp didn’t feel as a number 2 any more. He started feeling like a complete loser, who had been set aside and replaced by a sixteen year old brat. Warp just knew, that when today would be over, Zurg would fire him as well. After all, he had Nané… what more did he need?

Warp looked at the yellow robots that attacked Buzz and his team. It was obvious they were outnumbered, but the team kept on fighting. “There are too many Buzz!” Mira called out. “We can’t win this!”

“Everyone who dares to lose gets to scrub our ship with a toothbrush!” Buzz yelled back, and kept on fighting.

“Mira, I’m worried.” Booster mumbled. “This doesn’t sound like Buzz. It’s like he can’t accept we are outnumbered.”

“Neither can I.” Mira gritted her teeth, and started using all her Ghosting powers to get rid of the hornets. Seeing this courageous act from his team member, Booster decided to use his strength… which was his strength.

At that same time, XR pulled out everything he had in stock (and I mean everything!). “Okay, who dares to hurt me? Who’s a big boy?” A hornet replied with shooting his laser, and almost hitting XR. “I was only kidding!” Quickly he rolled behind the fighting Booster. “Hold on… I’m a highly advanced robot! I can’t lose from those… those… stupid machines!” And again he pulled out his laser. If his team members would have seen him, they would have been amazed by the courage the little robot showed.

Zurg enjoyed looking at the battle, and Nané looked worried at Zurg. “Evil Emperor?” She tried. “Shouldn’t we leave for Star Command?”

“Huh, what?” Zurg barely looked up. “Of course not. First we’ll crush Buzz Lightyear!” At that moment Buzz disabled the last hornet. “Curse you Buzz Lightyear!”

“Zurg, I place you under arrest.” Buzz repeated with confidence.

Warp took his chance. “Zurg, let me…”

“You?!” Zurg laughed. “I don’t think so! You see Buzz, I have a weapon even you can’t defeat!”

Buzz could not give any other answer than: “Huh?”

Zurg stepped aside, laughing evilly and showing his greatest pride. “May I introduce you… to the new and improved Nané Sophia!”

Team Lightyear gasped astounded. “Oh no, we are too late!” Booster said.

“Well, that was it.” XR sighed sarcastically. “Now we’re doomed.”

“Nané, my dear Nané…” Zurg offered his hand. “Could you please get rid of those pesky critters?”

Warp started sulking in a corner. “But I’m good too…” He whined.

Nané nodded. “With pleasure.” She bowed. She then leaped off the platform, and landed on the ground. Because of her Mecha Power Suit, she left quite some deep holes in the ground, but she didn’t seem to care. “Don’t you all worry…” Nané smiled. “It will all be over before you know it…”

“Oh yes, oh yes!” Zurg cheered.

“I… I failed?” Buzz dropped his shoulders.

“Oh goody! Oh goody!” Zurg almost acted like a giddy school girl. “Buzz Lightyear will be destroyed, and I will be on first row!”

Nané nodded and let a laser appear around her hand and wrist, like she had done before to attack Warp. “Oh, you couldn’t be more right…” Then suddenly Nané turned around, and fired at the platform Zurg was floating on! He almost fell off, as she laughed. “First row indeed!”

“What in evil’s name?!” Zurg exclaimed while climbing up on the platform.

Nané laughed, and flipped her hair back. “You could have known Zurg. I’m loyal to Star Command! Forever!”

“But I hypnotised you!” Zurg yelled angry, while Team Lightyear’s faces simply lit up. “You are under my control!”

“Well… guess not!” Nané grinned. “And thanks for the lovely Power Suit. I think I will keep it.”

“But I hypnotised you!”

“Oh, get over it.” Nané sighed annoyed. “As soon as I realised what Freak Show trick you tried, I simply didn’t look into your eyes any more. But thank you for all the fun I had while staying here.” Nané turned around and looked at Buzz. “He’s all yours Buzz.” She grinned.

“Ha! A true Space Ranger!” Buzz laughed. “Well done Rookie!”

“My pleasure.” Nané saluted and stepped aside.

“Oh no, MY pleasure!” Zurg suddenly pulled something from his robe. He pushed the button, and all of a sudden, Nané got electrocuted. Screaming of agony, Nané fell on the ground, trying to comprehend what just had happened. “Oh dear, did I forget to mention the safety I put on it? Bad me, bad me.” He acted like he actually regretted the thing. “I’m so sorry. Let’s make things clear. Either you obey me, or you die right here. How does that sound?”

“How about a big fat no!” Nané screamed back. As a response, Zurg pushed the button once more, and Nané almost collapsed because of the pain.

“Zurg, you evil…” Buzz started, clenching his fists.

“Oh, stop flattering me Buzz.” Zurg smiled. “Let’s make a deal. You surrender, and I will let your precious little Nané live.”

Nané tried to think straight, while Buzz and Zurg were having a hissy-fit about the deal. ‘They mustn’t surrender…’ Nané tried to think. Swallowing she hoped to find a solution. ‘But I just know they will do it! They will surrender… all because of me!’ Nané looked around. Booster, Mira and XR looked worried at Buzz, who got a whole minute to think about this from Zurg. ‘I must help them…’ And then… Nané suddenly spotted Warp, who seemed to be laughing in the corner again. ‘Warp… he’s the one who has to help me!’

Warp enjoyed seeing Buzz in trouble, and wondered how long it would take before he would give up. *Warp!* Warp looked around; did he hear something?

“Huh, what?” Warp asked surprised. Who called his name?

*Warp, you must listen to me!*

“Who is talking to me?” Warp was getting more and more confused. He knew the voice, but there was no one near who…

*Warp, it’s me!* Warp suddenly noticed Nané was looking at him. Yes, it was her voice… but she was too far away from him to let her voice be so clear! *I need your help!*

“Already 15 seconds passed.” Zurg timed it. “I’m starting to get impatient Buzz!”

“Her lips are not moving…” Warp noticed and pointed astounded.

*This is telepathy.* Nané filled him in. *Just think you are talking to me and I’ll pick up your thoughts!*

*Huh? But she’s human! She can’t do that.* Warp thought. * And what does she mean?*

*I mean that!* Nané hissed telepathically. *Now listen!* She was sounding so firm Warp obeyed the order. *I know you want to be Number 1 again.*

“And another 15 seconds passed. How convenient!” Zurg smiled. “Have you already decided?”

*Like you care.* Warp noticed that this think-talking went faster than normal talking. However, his smirk got noticed by Nané.

*I don’t want Zurg to win, but I can’t do that without your help!*

*Why should I help?* Warp was a bit offended. Being all goody-goody? Zurg would kill him! Besides, it was not his style.

*Because then you’ll be Number 1 again!*

‘That would be nice.’ Warp thought deeply. But how would she manage to do that? *Okay, humour me. What do I need to do?*

*Shoot me!*

“Just 15 seconds left Buzz!” Zurg yelled. “And I want your answer before the timer hits zero!”

“Huh?!” Warp exclaimed.

*I don’t care if you kill me!* Nané struggled to get up. *If you stop me, Zurg will like you again! That is my promise!*

Warp was not interested. *Oh yeah, shooting someone who can’t move. Now THAT is heroic.*

“What is your answer Buzz???” Zurg clenched the bar on his platform so tightly, the metal started to get torn.

Nané suddenly jumped up and aimed her laser gun. “THIS is his answer Zurg!” She screamed, and gathered all power to power up her gun.

“Emperor Zurg!” Warp called out, and used his Power Suit to get in front of the Emperor. He grabbed his laser gun, and released a blast before Nané could release hers.

Nané got hit in the Outer Controls, and collapsed on the ground after a short electrocution. “Nané!” Buzz called out shocked.

He looked up, ready to shoot, but saw Warp was still before Zurg. “I think it’s better if you leave Buzz…” Warp smiled, and aimed his gun.

“You haven’t won yet Zurg!” Buzz hissed, but let Booster pick up Nané. “We shall return to our Space Cruiser.” He ordered his team.

Warp watched them all leave, and a smile came on his face. “Well Zurg, what do you say about that? Your new number one betrayed you!”

“Curse you Nané!” Zurg released his anger. “Curse you Buzz Lightyear! Curse all who is as goody-goody as you are!” He kicked away some Grubs who decided to cancel Zurg’s attack plan, while Star Cruiser 42 left the area around his castle. “I want to see my old number one the first thing in the morning!” He pointed at Warp, who filled up with happiness inside (who can blame him?). “But right now I need an aspirin…”

Warp saw the Emperor leaving and smiled… but suddenly he started to look doubting…

When the Space Cruiser number 42 left the atmosphere, Mira walked at Buzz. “I think she’ll be fine.” She voiced her opinion. “But there is something bothering me…”

“What could bother you Mira?” Buzz smiled. “We saved the universe once again!”

“It’s not that.” Mira sat down. “It’s Warp. I thought he never missed his target; especially if he would be this close!” She leaned on her arms. “I get the feeling Warp didn’t want to kill her…”

“That’s impossible Mira!” Buzz laughed. “Warp would do anything to get rid of his rival!”

Booster agreed. “Yeah, I think he just had a bad aim today. It must be a coincidence!”

Mira laughed about her own silliness. “You all must be right.” She smiled and nodded.

“Don’t worry too much, Ranger Nova.” Buzz nudged her. “We once preserved Galactic Peace by stopping Zurg’s evil plans! Let’s go to infinity…”

“And beyond!!!” His team added in unison.

“Anyone for some coffee?”

“XR!”

To be continued…

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