The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 12

Taz sat up slowly, careful to not hit her head on the shelf again. But it was folded away- I didn't know it could do dat... The second thought that coursed through her head was counting down the days until she got to go to space for real, but she realised she was leaving tomorrow- not in a few months. She scrambled out of bed, only tenderly pressing on her ankle. It still hurt, and she couldn't risk being ineligible for the mission.

Throwing the little clothing she owned into a black duffel bag, she only had to grab her toothbrush and she was ready- apart from the whole weapons thing. Somehow, she had to smuggle a few of her knives on board with her so that she could get some practice. Taz's throwing skills were a little off lately, except during practice with Up. He could see her not focusing, so he would jump in front of the target and simply say "focus and don't hit me". Not once did Taz disappoint him.

Not three minutes later, Up knocked gently on her door. Taz remembered that she wasn't supposed to be on her ankle, so she quietly dragged herself back onto the bed and pretended to be asleep. Slightly childish, but she knew Up wouldn't like it if she was only on her ankle to pack. The door creaked open, and Taz's commander stepped into her room. He had donned his new outfit- a grey skin-suit with light grey pants, a black rank armband, kneepads, black boots and a holder with holsters for two zappers that strapped over his chest. His dark blonde hair had been spiked up, but his eyes were as piercing blue as ever.

It was an extreme change from his Lieutenant uniform- a silver vest over a navy jumpsuit. Now the navy jumpsuits were for science officers, and the silver articles of clothing had been eradicated completely. The new outfit suited Up- it brought out every muscle and only enhanced his face.

'Taz? Have you been packing?' Up asked, raising one eyebrow at the "sleeping" girl.

'No.' She mumbled, quickly slapping her hand over her mouth. 'Maldición. Sí, Up. I was packing.' She added, sleepily sitting up.

'Now Taz- I would have done it for ya.' Up sat down on the end of her bed.

'I know Up, but there are some things I'd rather you not see...' Taz was referring to her knives, but hoping Up caught the gist.

'Well, you could at least find a better spot for that knife, Taz. Let me show ya...' He bent down to her bag, grabbing all eight of her knives.

Taz smiled as he worked his way through the bag, shuffling her things around so that the knives were completely undetectable.

'How did you... know?'

'Well, some stuff you just know after a year. Other stuff, you gotta take a leap of faith.' He smiled up at her, seeing a twinkle in her eyes.

'Can we get a little training in today Up? I'm not feeling... prepared for the mission.' She looked away a little shyly, hoping it would trick Up into letting her train if she was appearing soft.

'Nice try, Taz. One year, remember?' He tapped his finger against his temple, Taz dropping the act.

It was as though Up knew everything about Taz- but she didn't even know his birthday. He saw her mood change slightly, and recalled his promise from the day before.

'February 6.' He mumbled.

Taz turned her head towards him. Up sighed and put on a brave face- he hated his birthday as much as Taz hated hers. Seeing his face, she knew that it took a lot of courage to say. She quickly leaned to her side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tight. Up relaxed into the embrace, looking down at her with a little surprise.

Taz quickly pulled back and stood up on her uninjured foot. 'Now dat damn packing is done, we can relax until we have to leave tomorrow!'

He nodded, standing beside her. 'By getting that mission moved up, we didn't get a chance to scare the newbies. Maybe we should go rip into 'em for the fun of it, hey Taz?'

He winked, and Taz ignored the feeling in her stomach. A wide grin spread across her face, and she pulled a face at Up. He returned it with a serious glare, and Taz burst out laughing. She normally took him seriously, but she couldn't with that hair. They pulled faces at each other for what seemed like hours, finally remembering the cadets that needed "guidance" in their "How to survive when being stabbed in the back" course.

This course was made up by Taz a few months ago when the privates were poking fun at her because she was so small, but the teacher had come late and she was picked to run the course. They all froze when the saw what was in Taz's shoe- a shiny sliver blade that she carried absolutely everywhere. She plucked it out, admiring it and eyeing each one of the now shaking privates before her.

She sniggered at them, watching them flinch when she just swished it around. They listened to every word she said, only hoping that they didn't miss that one piece of critical information and have the knife thrown at them. One private, however, was only brand new and didn't take her seriously.

'She's barely ten years old! We could take her!' He mouthed off, nudging the boys around him.

Not one of them responded, but he continued. Taz looked up from the clipboard in her hands and eyed him with a sly smirk.

'HEY! You.' She dropped the clipboard with a thunk, and walked over to him pointing her finger right at his face.

Instantly, he froze to the spot as he saw her close up. Her face was set in a hard line, and she was a lot scarier up close. 'Uh... yes?' His voice got higher and higher in fear.

Inside, Taz was gleaming like the blade on her knife.

'Put your hand on dat wall.' She ordered calmly. When he didn't move, she grabbed his shoulder and shoved him towards the wall. 'I said- PUT YOUR HAND ON DAT WALL! MOVE IT.'

He shook, running quickly towards the wall. He stood there with a dumb face, hoping she was just trying to scare him. She leaned to her side and dragged the knife out of her boot, smirking over it as he trembled.

'What are you doin' with that knife, Taz?' Came a stern voice behind her.

'Teaching a lesson Up.' Taz didn't turn around- she didn't need to.

He nodded and stood next to her. 'Sounds good to me. Hit 'em with your best shot.' He winked, making Taz fill up with pride.

She took her aim, despite the cries of the private. 'HEY! Shut up! I'm trying to aim, idiota! It will go much better for you if you don't move.' She warned, fighting every urge to smile.

He closed his eyes, and the gymnasium was now filled with screams of the private as the knife flew through the air.

Taz leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and a stern look on her face. Up was pacing in front of the new recruits, each one quaking as he looked them in the eye. Every single one had heard his story at the cafeteria that morning- one girl was spilling it to everyone who would listen.

Unfortunately, this unintentionally included Taz and Up. They were sitting just by the table of people surrounding the girl, and the story-teller hadn't even realised. Taz was a little concerned, but all of her worries went away when she saw Up's face.

He was trying incredibly hard not to burst out laughing at the stories she told- each one clearly a lie, Taz realised.

'It's odd hearin' stuff about yourself. I never knew that I took on a volcano and saved the world by shootin' one single zapper laser into several robots!' Up laughed, Taz joining in.

Not a single person noticed the two of them, they were too entranced with the stories the red-head girl was telling them.

Taz smirked as the girl raved on about the scar on Up's eye, emphasising every word and making it seem as though it was a sign from Dead God that he was special.

Taz remembered how Up got his scar- it was her fault. After she fell through the air and into his arms after being a human piñata, her knife scraped down his eye.

Up never minded- it didn't even phase him as he ran with the girl in his arms. His mind was set on one thing- getting the girl to the emergency base and keeping her alive. She was bruised and battered, her beautiful dress torn to shreds and gaping open around wounds from the robot's whacking poles.