The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 9

Up ran to his side while Taz checked the girls- but first, she had to catch her breath. She was doubled over, hands on her knees. Finally able to see clearly, she wandered over and gave each of the girls a shove.

'What happened to dat moron?' She asked Ruth, flicking her head at Krayonder.

'He was crying about how we were gonna die, so Gene kicked her leg out and it kinda smashed him in the face.' Ruth glared at Gene.

Gene sat up. 'We dragged him here at least! Ruth wanted to leave him!'

'Okay ENOUGH!' Taz shouted, grabbing their attention. She rubbed her temples and tried to focus.

'Let's get out of dis damn simulation.'

Two minutes later, Ruth and Gene ran out of the Drop-Pod and to their drink-bottles. Taz helped Up get Krayonder onto his back and carried him to the infirmary.

The girls collapsed onto a bench, Ruth dropping onto Gene's lap. 'I signed up to be a science officer- Not a stupid alien fighter!'

Gene shoved Ruth off. 'Same! Did you ever have to hide in the simulator, Taz?'

Taz looked over at the two girls. 'No- They use newbies and science officers, tryin' to scare dem into being better fighters. It might come in handy, you know.'

Gene acknowledged Taz's comment, but had no idea what she was saying. 'Are you and the Commander related?' She asked smiling.

Taz shook her head. 'No.'

'Interesting. Wait- aren't you like, fourteen?' Ruth asked, looking awkwardly at Taz.

'I'm sixteen and it's none of your business.' Taz turned to leave, but the girls had jumped to their feet and were right behind her.

'I'm seventeen-' Gene began, but was cut off by Ruth.

'And I'm seventeen, too!'

'I don't care.' Taz turned down the corridor and practically ran to her room. She had no idea what those two girls were going on about. What does my age matter?

She typed in her password and basically fell through her door, face-planting on her bed. The door swung shut, and Taz breathed a sigh of relief. Damn aliens. She thought, but not necessarily about the creatures they had just destroyed.

At lunch the next day, Taz sat patiently at her and Up's table. She turned around a few times to see February laughing with her friends and her sister. Lucille (or Luce to February) had her dark blonde hair in a short ponytail- much more fitting for a Commander.

Gene was sitting right next to February on the edge of the table, playing with her hair. Her blue eyes scanned the room for a target- Perfect. She thought to herself. Smiling at a boy on the table not too far from her, he was captivated by her bright blue eyes. He wandered over with a goofy smile, offering her his arm. She gladly took it and waved goodbye to her friends. He looks like he'd carry my books! Gene smiled at him. 'I'm Genevieve. You can call me Gene.'

Taz face-palmed. Suddenly, she heard a thump right next to her and turned to see Ruth sitting in Up's chair.

'Move.' Taz said sternly, pointing at a far away table.

'Uh uh.' Ruth smirked, starting to eat her tray of fruit.

'Look- go sit with February! Dere's a spot and everything.' Taz requested, much less friendly.

'What- this spot taken?' Ruth asked irritated.

'Sí. Up sits dere.' Taz eyed her cautiously, and Ruth grudgingly moved.

Finally, Up's cheerful face came into view. His blue eyes sparkled- and he smiled at her. Taz waved him over, taking a bite of her burger. Through a mouthful, she managed to ask him why he was so happy.

'Our mission was moved up, Taz! We get to go in two days!' Up beamed at Taz.

A smile spread across her face. 'Dat's great, Up! Damn it- I gotta go pack.' She dropped her food on the tray, and Up grabbed her arm before she was too far away.

'Can't ya just wait, Taz?' He gestured at the seat on front of him.

'Okay...' She sat back down, trying to get comfortable.

'Look, we haven't really had a proper conversation in a while.' Up noticed Taz getting uncomfortable.

'Si?' Taz looked up at him awkwardly, mouth full of food yet again.

'Everythin' has been sorta rushed for the past few days. You gettin' promoted, those damn bullies, an anniversary, new friends...'

'Anniversary?' Taz queried, swallowing her food. 'What anniversary?'

Up cringed- he was hoping she'd missed that part. 'Uh, our first meeting.' He seemed a little embarrassed.

'What is it, Up? Spit it out!' Taz was starting to get nervous. It could be bad, or it could be terrible. But it could also be good...

Just as Up was about to stammer a response, there was a loud alarm piercing the air. Taz flew to her feet, her ankle throbbing. Up jumped behind her as cadets covered their ears and ran screaming for their dorms. Taz was still trying to figure out the alarm system, but Up knew it off by heart. She saw his face, and they knew.

'Robots.'

Taz and Up ran straight for the weapons room, shoving every cadet along the way into their rooms. Only 16 commanders and lieutenants were in the room, cowering with guns. Taz would have cowered too, but she was far too angry. It was time to get revenge on the monsters that destroyed her family.

Up was the bravest commander in the room- he organised squadrons of four to check the main points the robots may have accessed and keep an eye on them (the gym, the admin office, the cafeteria and the gym). He and Taz were going to take the Library- alone. They stormed down the hallway, making three lefts and a right- stopping right outside the door. After several loud crashes and bangs, they knew they had gotten the brunt of the robot force. Taz turned the dial on her zapper- something far worse than "pew". They bust through the door, firing away.

A long and heated battle between Taz, Up and eight robots was far shorter than what they had expected. It took over half an hour, but they did it. Together. Taz's ankle started playing up, so Up spun her around and they were back to back in a circle of four or so robots. There was one left- the leader. His entire shell was pure silver, and his helmet made two eyeholes with piercing red dots.

Taz and Up's zappers started to blink- they were out of power. But Taz looked back and smiled at Up, unsheathing her knife.

'Come and get me, robota!' She cried, running at full speed into the giant figure.

Up watched as Taz leapt into the air, crashing down onto the robot. Her knife dug into the neck of the horrid beast, separating its head from it's body. The robot fizzed, and it's head exploded- sending Taz down to the ground.