NOS-4-A2.0

Free At Last

 The moment NOS had shut down his control over XR and Minerva had broken, releasing them from their curse and returning to normal. Still turned off when Ty stopped him XR rebooted his systems quickly feeling a reeling headache in his processor he groaned a bit and leaned up saying, "Man, I either had the worst oil last night or I really need a tune-up after what NOS-4-A2.0 did to me." As for Minerva she had powered down for a few moments, her body going limp in Booster's grip, and once her system rebooted she leaned up, looked around and asked, "Wha...what's going on? Ugh, I feel so awful and drained, like I haven't been myself for a while." Watching his friends return to normal Booster knew without a doubt that Ty's plan had worked and NOS-4-A2.0 was defeated. Giving Minerva a squeezing hug and dancing happily he said, "XR, Minerva, you're okay! You're okay! Oh, I'm so happy that you're not under NOS-4-A2.0's control anymore!" Feeling the hug suddenly alert her senses Minerva looked up at Booster and said, "Whoa, whoa, easy Booster! Of course I'm fi-wait, what did you say? We were under NOS-4-A2.0's control? I don't..I don't even remember that happening." Stopping his dancing and setting Minerva down on the floor Booster explained as XR came to stand beside them, "Yeah, you were. Both you and XR were being controlled by that creep as he was trying to take over Star Command. You really don't remember that?" Shaking her head in reply, growing shocked as as she listened to Booster's answer, Minerva replied, "No I don't. All I remember is last night when Ty said goodnight to me and I went to sleep. The next thing I know I'm waking up with you giving me the strongest hug in my life." Understanding how she felt XR patted her leg and said, "Don't feel bad. That bit-brained energysucker gotten me enough times I know you feel when I return to normal. At least the good news is that we're free and he's a pile of junk again." Feeling a bit better Minerva nodded and smiled then wondering something she looked around and asked, "By the way where's everybody else? And why are we in a hallway and not in the science bay." Getting a sheepish look Booster said, "Well, the station's kind of been under a panic since NOS-4-A2.0 made one of the LGMs activate the main override program. And Buzz, Mira and Ty went to fight him somewhere else in the station. By the way you two returned to normal Ty's plan must have worked and NOS-4-A2.0's been stopped." Hearing that it was Ty's plan that saved the day Minerva quickly became elated at that and said while leading the two down the hallway, "Really? Then let's go find them and tell them the good news that we're okay! C'mon!" Booster and XR looking at each other for a moment they shrugged their shoulders and followed after her, catching up with her as they went to go find their friends.

Several hallways later both groups had managed end up traveling towards each other in the same hallway. As the two came around the bend at the same time, seeing each other as they came into view they all ran up to each other happy to see that all were alright. The moment that Ty and Minerva saw each other the two quickly ran to each other and throwing their arms around one another both of them relieved that the other was alright. Hugging Ty's neck in gratitude she said to him, "Oh Ty, thank you so much for what you did! Though I can't remember much of what happened Booster told me what was going on and when he told me that it was your plan that saved the day I was so happy that I had to find you and tell you how happy I was for you." Very happy himself that Minerva was safe and sound and back to who she was supposed to be Ty squeezed her tight and lightly starting to cry he replied, "You're welcome. To be honest all I could think about was trying to save you from the monster that NOS-4-A2.0 turned you into. I got so scared when I realized that it was his fault when you hardly had any energy the first day we met. We figured that he must have snuck into the station the night before, found his way to the science bay and gotten to both you and XR. I'm just glad that my plan worked out the way I wanted it or else...or else I might have lost you forever." Listening to what he said and feeling it resonate within her Minerva leaned her head up to look Ty in his eyes and said with a soft smile, "Ty...you will never lose me. After all, star lilies are never wrong when they say they bring two people together in mysterious ways." Remembering what she said about the lily the first time Ty got a clever smirk and asked, "I thought you said that it was just a little rumor that goes around." Bashfully giggling at that Minerva replied, "Well, let's just say that I know quite a few people that have been together for a long, long time because of it." Gently laughing as well Ty rested his forehead against her and softly agreed, "Then maybe they'll know us, too." Everyone else checking with other to see if they were okay they had noticed what was going on between Ty and Minerva, quickly figuring out what was happening and everyone couldn't help but smile. Clearing her throat to get their attention Mira said with the best straight face she could muster, "Of course, thanks to Ty not only was Star Command saved but the entire universe. If it wasn't for him the galaxy would've fallen into the hands of pure evil and chaos." Nodding in agreement Buzz walked over and putting a hand on Ty's shoulder he said, "I agree. Your skill at figuring out how to fool NOS-4-A2.0 by using his arrogance against him and your compassion to save your fellow Rangers helped you to come up with a sound plan that was able to save us all. You truly have become the hero you deserve to be, buddy." Feeling a strong sense of gratitude and honor from what his old friend said Ty nodded and replied, "Wow, thanks Buzz. Hearing that come from you really means a lot to me." At that moment the lights returned to normal and an LGM's voice came out of the intercom saying, "Main override control has been deactivated. Star Command is back to normal." Hearing this everyone breathed a sigh of relief and resting her head on Ty's chest in comfort Minerva said happily, "Then the nightmare is finally over."

 A few hours later once everything had settled down Ty and Minerva were taking a long walk together, not letting either one out of their sight for an instant after everything that happened. As they walked along hand in hand Ty's communicator alerted him to a message that he was receiving. The two looking at each other with the same sense of concern Ty released Minerva's hand and opening his communicator the image of Buzz appeared on it with a grave expression on his face. Feeling his gut starting to churn with a feeling of severe worry Ty asked, "Buzz, is...everything okay? What's wrong?" Letting out a sigh of discontent Buzz answered, "It's NOS-4-A-2.0's body. We don't know how or why but it's somehow...disappeared." Shocked at learning what had happened Minerva asked with a sense of fear ringing in her voice, "Are...are you sure Buzz? Could be that it was just...misplaced or something?" Shaking his head Buzz replied, "I'm sorry, Minerva. The LGMs did a thorough check of the entire science bay and he's nowhere to be found. They think that someone or something might have used a teleporter strong enough to pass through our defenses and teleported him right out of the bay." Nodding in understanding Ty said before shutting his communicator, "Alright then, thanks for telling us. Be sure to let us know if anything new develops." Lowering his arm and sighing in disappointment and looking at Minerva he was shocked to see her trembling and had a deep fear in her optics. Feeing his heart clench in worry he put a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Minerva, what's wrong? What's gotten you so scared?" Looking at Ty and feeling his hand on her shoulder Minerva answered with a slightly cracked voice, "I'm scared because after everything that's happened and the hard work you put into stopping NOS-4-A2.0 someone or something ends up taking him right out of our science bay. Who would want an evil such as him...to use him to spread even more evil out into the universe?" Looking like she was about ready to cry Ty pulled her into his arms and stroking her hair he comforted her by saying, "Shh, shh, everything's going to be okay. Even though we don't exactly know what had happened the main thing is that for now he has no chance of getting to you and has absolutely no chance of harming you ever again. I'm going to make sure of that. No matter what I'll do everything in my power to make sure that you never get hurt by that monster ever again. If it did I would never be able live with myself, let alone the weight of my breaking heart if I saw it happen again." Placing his hand on her cheek he lifted her face to look into her optics he continued, "Minerva, I've been trying to tell you this for a while now but I've never had the courage until now to say that...that I love you, with every beat of my heart and every fiber of my being." The moment she heard Ty's confession Minerva's optics brightened in surprise and smiling happily she returned, "Oh Ty...I'm in love with you, too. Ever since that first day when you helped me and every day since I've realized that I've felt the same way. Even though it sounds cliche to say that you're the man of my dreams but you've surpassed that and so much more." Feeling like the luckiest guy in the galaxy when he heard that Ty smiled back and said lovingly, "Then I hope this means that I've surpassed even more." With a soft look in his eyes he gently leaned his head closer to hers and kissed her while Minerva sighed in content as she recieved her first kiss of true, undeniable love. As they shared their embrace they both knew deep down in their hearts that there was nothing that was going to tear each other apart from each other so as long as their love stood strong and true for all of their lives.