To Infinity and Beyond
To infinity and beyond
Episode 5: The challenge
By Kitty Ocean
Weeks had passed since Warp had paid a visit. Nané had to run from class to class to make up for the week she wasn't at school. However, since Nané wasn't good in tests, she barely made them with a 60 %, enough to let her pass them.
But the one thing she kept on being the best in, was when they had to practise fighting. More and more students became jealous at her.
"I'm telling you." One said. "She's not a human. She's a robot in disguise!"
A girl giggled. "That would explain her rough manners!"
Nané took off a safety helmet and heard the giggling. When she turned around, she saw the same boy who just was telling others she was a robot. "Hey Nané." He started.
"Ehm, hi Tei." Nané replied. She never liked that guy. "Something wrong?"
"No, not really." Tei smiled. "But the guys and I are wondering how good you really are. I mean, I believe you are better than Buzz Lightyear, but the guys... hard to convince."
Nané took her bag from her locker. "This is a trick to challenge me, right?" She answered. "And I don't think I'm better than Buzz Lightyear. He has experience, I have no experience at all." Tei sighed dramatically. It reminded Nané of her encounter with Zurg. "Any chance you are related to Zurg?" Nané asked, but Tei didn't hear it.
"Oh, Nané, you disappoint me!" He sighed.
"Well, that's your problem." Nané zipped her bag close.
Tei sighed again! "Now the whole school will think you are a fraud!"
"As long as Star Command won't think that."
"You are hard to persuade, are you not?" Tei asked and Nané nodded. "Oh well, then I won't tell you about it."
"About what?" Nané asked, curious as she was.
"Nothing." Tei turned around.
Nané grabbed his arm. "Hey, you made me curious, so now you have to tell me about it too!"
"Okay." Tei smiled meanly. "The guys heard about a new very dangerous Star Cruiser Zurg developed. Star Command wants to take it away from Zurg before he uses it."
"That's stealing." Nané mumbled.
Tei folded his arms. "It's not stealing, it's taking away something that could destroy us!"
"It's still stealing."
"Bet you can't steal it!"
"What? Huh?" Nané looked at Tei. "So that's what it's all about. You want to challenge me to steal that new hyper ship from Zurg!"
Tei looked determent at Nané. "Is there anyone more fit for the job?"
Commander Nebula looked at some forms. "I just cannot escape, can I?" He asked himself. Suddenly he spotted something at a form. "Huh? Why is there so much fuel taken today?"
In the middle of space, Nané flew in her space suit. Suddenly it started spitting. "Darn, again!" She cursed and took off her flying-pack. "I'm glad I took so much fuel along with me. This is the third time I'm out off fuel. I'd better get that ship or I won't make it home." She placed a pack in her jetpack. "Well, this should do it." And she started flying again.
Soon she saw planet Z. Nané slowly went through the atmosphere, knowing she would burn alive if she would go to fast. "Here we are again." She mumbled.
It took Nané about an hour to just land at the surface, and still she hadn't been spotted. "I knew it would be saver this way, they just don't spot a single Space Ranger!" Nané felt proud that she had been so smart. "I'll show Tei." She mumbled.
In Zurg's Castle, Grubs walked around with things. "Your most evilness?" One asked Zurg.
"I'm busy." Zurg replied angry. "I'm trying to figure out how it's possible that I'm so evil."
"But Emperor...?"
"What?" Zurg exclaimed.
The Grub ducked and said: "We are almost ready your very evilness." He swallowed. "You told me to warn you when we would almost be finished."
Zurg remembered it. "Did I? Oh, I'm so sorry." He helped the Grub standing. "Are you all right? Didn't I scare you too much?"
"No, my Emperor." The Grub shook is head.
"Good, good." Zurg played with his fingers. "And how are we doing today? Aren't we forgetting something?"
The Grub thought. "I don't think so."
"Oh, and what about... TAKING ME TO MY NEW HYPER SHIP???!" Zurg yelled. The Grub quickly ran to the new ship. "Oh, it's so hard to get decent employees. Warp?"
"Yes, my Lord?" Warp was totally not in the mood. He was watching a TV show.
"Warp?" Zurg asked. "Would you please take a minute to walk with me?"
"Just a minute, the evil Lord is about to blow up the whole place!" Warp was really hooked on.
Zurg blasted the TV. "Are you ready now?"
Warp peeked above the couch. "Yes... yes Zurg!" He said shaking.
Both walked through the corridors. Zurg was anxious to see his new hyper ship, but Warp was a bit angry because Zurg blasted his TV. "If he wouldn't pay me that well...." Warp mumbled.
At that moment Nané crossed the corridor. Warp thought he heard something and looked back. But the corridor was empty.
"Warp, can't you move on?" Zurg asked annoyed. "You are our best pilot and I want you to test that ship."
"Really?" Warp felt happy. "I will get the new ship?"
Zurg opened a door. "Of course not, if it doesn't explode it will be my ship."
"Wow... I'm really honoured." Warp replied mumbling.
Both saw the new ship. It looked really fast and dangerous. Nané hid somewhere above it all so she could hear anything.
The Grubs explained how the ship worked and Nané got bored. "Man, even I could steer that ship." She mumbled. "No wonder Zurg picked Warp. It surprises me he didn't pick a Grub."
At that moment a Grub walked along Nané hiding place. "Hey, you don't look like a Grub."
Nané swallowed. "That's because I'm not a Grub." She said.
"Oh, than that's why you don't look like a Grub." And he walked on.
Nané sighed and knew she had to get a new hiding place. Suddenly the Grub realised what just had happened. "Intruder!" He yelled.
"What?" Zurg yelled. "Who? Buzz?" He looked around and spotted Nané. "Nané?" He asked. "Why Nané?" But Zurg recovered quickly. "Get her!"
Warp looked at the Grubs diving at Nané. *What are you doing here? * He asked.
*Bit busy at the moment. * Nané replied.
"What are you still doing here Warp?" Zurg screamed. "Get her!"
Warp doubted but then said: "Yes Zurg!" And flew up.
Not very long after that, Nané had been captured and taken to Zurg. "Has Buzz retired?"
"No." Nané replied confused. "Why would he retire?"
"Because they send a rookie to stop me and not him." Zurg folded his arms. "I'm insulted."
"Don't be yet." Nané smiled. "Give me a minute and you'll really be insulted."
*You've really got yourself in to trouble! * Warp send.
*I know. * Nané smiled. *But I'll get out, don't worry. *
*But I can't help you, or Zurg will know... *
Nané interrupted him. *Don't worry, I understand. *
"Warp!" Zurg ordered, "Put her in a cell!"
"Yes Zurg." Warp obeyed.
Warp took Nané to a cell. *So, what will you do now? * Warp asked curious.
*That will be a surprise. * Nané smiled and Warp opened the door of the cell. *Oh Warp? *
*Yes? *
*Don't forget to sound the alarm. *
"Huh?" Warp asked but before he could react, Nané swung him into the cell and closed the door.
"Nané!" Warp yelled.
"See you Warp!" Nané laughed and ran through the corridor.
Soon Warp managed to get out and sounded the alarm. Nané opened a door and jumped over the Grubs who blocked her way. She kicked against the Hornets Zurg send after her but managed to get to the new Hyper Ship.
Nané jumped in and looked at the controls. "Let's see, it was red button to start it." She pushed the red button. The ship instantly started its motors and Nané flew at the wall. "Ack!" She screamed. "I knew I forgot something!"
But the new hyper ship went right through the wall. Nané laughed and saw Zurg cursing behind her. She cheered and finally got away from planet Z.
"Curse you Nané!" Zurg yelled. "Oh, I rather have Buzz Lightyear!"
At home, Nané proudly showed the Hyper Ship to Tei and his friends. "Wow!" Tei was really impressed. "How did you do it?"
"That's my secret." Nané winked.
"So where will you hide it?" A girl asked.
"Yeah, that's what I'd like to know." All looked back and saw Commander Nebula with his arms folded.
"Ehm, see you Nané!" Tei swallowed and ran away with his friends.
Nané swallowed too. "Ehm, hi Commander Nebula. What do you think about the weather today?" But nothing could change the determent steel face of the Commander. "Oh boy..." Nané mumbled.
End of part 5