Chapter

In Al’s apartment, Woody was having fun playing with his new friends. They had propped a packing box on its side, turning it into a makeshift saloon.

“How ’bout givin’ me a little intro there, Jessie?” called Woody from inside the box.

Jessie began, “Introducing the high-ridin’est cowboy around—”

“You forgot rootin’-tootin’est!” said Woody.

“The high-ridin’est, rootin’-tootin’est cowboy hero of all time…Sheriff Woody!” announced Jessie.

Woody strolled out through the box flaps as though they were saloon doors. With smooth confidence, he swaggered over to Jessie. “Say, little missy,” he said, “you notice any trouble around these parts?”

“Nary a bit,” replied Jessie. “Not with Sheriff Woody around.”

Then Woody had an idea. “Wait! I got it!” he exclaimed. “Okay, the bandits got the critters tied up in the burning barn, and now for the best part!” He ran over to the packing box excitedly and jumped inside, calling, “Help us! The barn’s on fire!” in the voice of the trapped critters. Then he popped out of the box holding an armful of packing peanuts.

“I’ve gotcha, critters! No need to worry,” he said. “Woody saves the day again!”

“Yee-haw!” shouted Jessie.

“Now, where’s my trusty steed, Bullseye?” asked Woody. “I have to ride off into the sunset.”

An eager Bullseye galloped over to Woody, picking him up in one swift move. The pair struck a gallant pose. Then Woody shouted, “Ride like the wind, Bullseye!”

Bullseye reared up, preparing to run. Suddenly, Woody slid right off the horse’s back, along with the saddle! “Whoa—oof!” Woody groaned as he landed on the floor in a pile. Jessie grabbed him under the arms to help him up.

“Wait! I’m ticklish, okay?” cried Woody.

“Oh, you are?” asked Jessie playfully. She and Bullseye pounced on Woody and began to tickle him.

“No, no, please!” cried Woody between bursts of laughter. “Stop it! Please! Stop!”

Inside the air vent that led to Al’s apartment, New Buzz spoke into his wrist communicator again. “Mission Log: have reached Zurg’s command deck, but no sign of him, or his wooden captive.”

Suddenly, Woody’s voice echoed through the chambers. “Please! No! Stop!”

“That’s Woody!” said Slinky before letting out a howl.

“This way!” cried New Buzz.

The toys turned and ran down the duct. They reached the grate that opened into Al’s apartment and tried to peer through. They could hear Woody’s voice, but they couldn’t see him. “I’m begging you! No more! I’m begging you, stop!” Woody pleaded as Jessie continued to tickle him.

“They’re torturing him!” cried the toys.

Rex gasped. “What are we going to do, Buzz?” he asked.

“Use your head,” said New Buzz.

The toys grabbed Rex and aimed his head at the grate. Using him as a battering ram, they scrambled forward. “But I don’t want to use my head!” cried Rex.

“Charge!” the rest of the toys yelled, running full-speed toward the grate. Woody hadn’t screwed the grate back onto the vent, and it gave way as soon as the toys hit it. They crashed into Al’s apartment, passing the Roundup gang and smashing into the far wall.

Woody, Jessie, Bullseye, and the Prospector froze, shocked by the sudden arrival.

“What’s going on here?” asked the Prospector.

“Guys!” cried Woody. “How did you find me?”

“Watch yourself!” shouted New Buzz. Then he pushed Woody to the ground in an effort to protect him, while Andy’s toys rushed the Roundup gang.

“We’re here to spring you, Woody,” explained Slinky.

Hamm tackled the Prospector, knocking his box flat on its back. “You heard of kung fu?” Hamm shouted. “Well, get ready for pork chop!”

“Hold it!” cried Woody. “Hey, you don’t understand! These are my friends.”

“Yeah, we’re his friends,” said Rex.

“No, Rex. I mean they’re my friends,” said Woody, pointing at the Roundup gang. Slinky and Bullseye began to circle one another, snarling. Slinky’s coil arched like a cat about to fight. Jessie ran over to try to break them up, and Slinky quickly tied her and Bullseye up with his coils.

“Hey!” cried Jessie.

“Grab Woody and let’s go!” ordered Slinky. New Buzz ran to Woody, picked him up, and started to carry him off.

“Fellas, hold it!” Woody protested. “Hey, Buzz—put me down!”

“Quick, to the vent!” Andy’s toys shouted.

“They’re stealing him!” cried Jessie in alarm.

“No!” shouted the Prospector.

The toys all rushed to the vent. Suddenly, the real Buzz blocked their path. “Hold it right there!” he said.

“Buzz?” said Woody and the rest of Andy’s toys.

“You again?” asked New Buzz.

Buzz looked up at Woody, who was still in New Buzz’s arms. “Woody! Thank goodness you’re all right.”

“Buzz, what is going on?” asked Woody.

New Buzz dropped Woody. “Hold on! I am Buzz Lightyear, and I’m in charge of this detachment.”

“No, I’m Buzz Lightyear,” Buzz told the others.

“So who’s the real Buzz?” asked Woody.

“I am,” both Buzzes replied.

New Buzz turned to the others. “Don’t let this imposter fool you! He’s been trained by Zurg himself to mimic my every move—”

Buzz reached over and popped New Buzz’s helmet open. New Buzz sputtered and gasped for air, falling to the ground. As a newly woken space ranger, he still believed he was on a foreign planet and the air wasn’t safe to breathe. While New Buzz faltered, Buzz calmly lifted his foot and showed everyone the ANDY written on the sole of his boot.

“Buzz!” cried Andy’s other toys with relief.

“I had a feeling it was you, Buzz,” said Slinky. “My front end just had to catch up with my back end.”

New Buzz managed to close his helmet and stand up. “Will somebody please explain what’s going on?” he asked, catching his breath.

“It’s all right, Space Ranger,” said Buzz. “It’s a code five-forty-six.”

New Buzz gasped. “You mean it’s a—”

“Yes,” said Buzz.

“And he’s a—” said New Buzz.

“Oh, yeah,” said Buzz.

New Buzz rushed over to Woody and bowed down on one knee. “Your Majesty,” he said. Woody looked down, giggling in confusion.

Buzz took Woody’s arm. “Woody, you’re in danger here. We need to leave now.”

“Al’s selling you to a toy museum—in Japan!” cried Rex.

“I know. It’s okay, Buzz,” said Woody, pulling away. “I actually want to go.”

“What?” cried Rex.

“The thing is,” explained Woody, “I’m a rare Sheriff Woody doll, and these guys are my Roundup gang.” He motioned to Jessie, Bullseye, and the Prospector, who all waved.

“Woody, what are you talking about?” asked Buzz.

“Woody’s Roundup! It’s this great old TV show, and I was the star!”

Woody clicked the remote, and the TV turned on and began to play an episode of Woody’s Roundup. “See, now look. Look at me! See, that’s me!” said Woody.

On the screen, the TV Woody was riding the TV Bullseye. Andy’s toys watched in confusion.

“This is weirdin’ me out,” said Hamm.

Woody explained, “Buzz, it was a national phenomenon! And there was all this merchandise that just got packed up. Oh, you should’ve seen it. There was a record player and a yo-yo. Buzz, I was a yo-yo!”

Buzz pulled Woody aside. “Woody, stop this nonsense and let’s go.”

“I can’t go,” said Woody with a sigh. “I can’t abandon these guys. They need me to get into this museum. Without me they’ll go back into storage—maybe forever.”

Buzz raised his voice. “Woody, you’re not a collector’s item. You are a child’s plaything. You are a toy!”

“For how much longer?” reasoned Woody. “One more rip, and Andy’s done with me. What do I do then, Buzz, huh? You tell me.”

“Somewhere in that pad of stuffing is a toy who taught me that life’s only worth living if you’re being loved by a kid,” said Buzz. “And I traveled all this way to rescue that toy because I believed him.”

“Well, you wasted your time,” said Woody. He folded his arms and turned away from Buzz.

“Let’s go, everyone,” said Buzz.

“What about Woody?” asked Slinky.

“He’s not coming with us,” said Buzz as he turned toward the grate.

“But Andy’s coming home tonight,” said Rex.

“Then we’d better make sure we’re there waiting for him,” said Buzz.

Buzz waited by the vent as New Buzz and the rest of Andy’s toys climbed through. Slinky glanced sadly at Woody before trudging out and disappearing into the darkness. Buzz paused, looking at Woody one last time.

“I don’t have a choice, Buzz,” said Woody, shrugging. “This is my only chance.”

“To do what, Woody?” asked Buzz. “Watch kids from behind glass and never be loved again? Some life.” He stepped into the vent and closed the grate behind him.