Tears of a Ranger (Taz/Up Fanfic Sequel to UBU)

Chapter 8

(IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END, PLEASE READ!)

Taz, Up, and February stood there for what felt like an eternity. Up stood solemnly while the Taz held her sobbing ex-roommate, tears tracking their way down her own cheeks as well. Finally, Up cleared his throat. 

"Um, we have to go out and, um," he began, clearly unsure of how to continue. He looked towards the door Bug had been pulled through. Taz understood. They had to go and find whatever parts of Bug they could, so they could give him a proper burial. 

She removed herself from February. "Hey, why don't jou go and find the others? Stay with them for a while." February nodded, walking slowly to the door. Taz turned to Up, wiping the stupid tears from her own face. How could she have been so stupid, crying where anyone could see her? Her entire image could have been destroyed right there. 

"It's okay, you know," Up told her. She looked up at him, confused. "Crying. It isn't a bad thing." 

She sniffed. "I thought jou were the one who taught me to alway stand up and not show weakness?" she mumbled.

He shook his head. "I was an idiot. I thought that it mattered. It doesn't, though. It's just a stupid idea, the thought that crying makes you weak. It doesn't. It means you're strong, it means you're willing to feel for others and let them be able to hurt you. It's the bravest thing anyone can do."

Taz looked up at him. She couldn't believe this. Three years of building a wall of defiance, and here he was, telling her she should tear it down. She wiped her face once again, turning to head out and load into a ship. They really did need to find as much of Bug as possible before he got too far away. 

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Later that day, the entire group gathered back on the planet. Tootsie and Specs set down a crate that they had carried out, covered in a Starship Flag. Krayonder's head was bound in a bandage. They fell into a semi-circle around the crate.

"Ten hut!" Up shouted. They all straightened. "We are gathered here today to pay our final respects to our honored dead. Bug, who we lay to rest here, in his native soil. So, Bug, I know that your body exploded in space and that the few remaining bits of it that we managed to salvage are all lying in a pile in a box at my feet."

February made a distressed sobbing noise, her hands moving to cover her mouth. Up seemed not to notice as he continued. "But I like to think that you're still out there, somewhere." 

"Would you settle for somewhere right here?" came a voice to their left. They turned to see a giant orange bug peering around a rock. 

"It's a damn bug!" Taz shouted as they all backed away. They all started shouting as the bug took a step towards them. 

"No, guys, it's me, Bug!" the bug said. 

"Bug?!" Up exclaimed. 

Bug nodded. "Yeah. I know I look a little different, but you see, when my body died up there, I woke up down here. And I know it's wierd, but I'm still the same Bug. What do you say everybody? February?" He looked straight at the blond. 

She stepped forward, her face breaking into a smile. "Oh, Bug." She looked at him closely. "It's really you!"

"I'd understand if you still hate bugs, but-" He trailed off. 

"Well," February said, "I thought I hated bugs, but there's one that makes me feel like I'm more than I ever thought I could be!"

"It's that bastard, Pincer, isn't it?!" Bug said, an angry look crossing his features.

Taz rolled her eyes. What an idiota. "No," February said. "It's you, Bug!"

"Oh!" Bug said, laughing.

"Guys I'm stuck!" February called over, pretending to be unable to escape. Taz couldn't help but smile. "He's got me! Not leaving this one!" She turned back to the insect next to her. Taz turned to Up, deciding to give them their moment. She smiled, his blue eyes meeting her brown ones. 

"Well, tarnation, ya'll!" Tootsie shouted. "This calls for a celebration of sorts! What do you say we turn this here funeral into a wedding!" He fell to one knee in front of Megagirl, a candy ring in his hands. Gasps rang through the group. 

Megagirl took the ring with wide eyes. "Tootsie, my pleasure curcuits are at a maximum capacity."

"Why, we're just getting started, come on, everybody!" Tootsie said, dragging her to the center of the clearing. Taz watched as Up married the couple, ending in a kiss that seemed to radiate love. Watching this gave Taz a longing she hadn't felt in three years- the longing for a happy ending that included someone to hold her, kiss her, and tell her they loved her. It was a longing that she had lost when she dropped Gabriela for Taz, because it hadn't seemed important. Feeling them resurface made her heart hurt, having been left out for so long.

"Oh," Bug said, interrupting her thoughts, "I hope you guys don't mind, but I invited some friends along!"

The group cheered as a swarm of bugs came from behind the rocks. They quickly got along, Bug translating conversations when necessary. Taz turned to Up. 

"How?" she asked.

He looked at her, confused. "How what?"

"How is it that, after all of that, everyone gets a happy ending?" He smiled.

"I dunno. What I do know, though, is that we can finally-"

He was cut off by a beeping on Taz's communicator. She held it up to see an image of Marie, her other old roommate. Her blond hair was a mess, her beautiful face scratched and dirty. 

"Taz! Thank God! I didn't know what else to do so I called you!"

"Marie?" Taz asked. "What's wrong?"

Marie shook her head. "I don't know! But last night, all of a sudden a huge army of robots came out of nowhere! They stormed the Academy and cut through the front lines in minutes. There are thousands of them, you need to come and help!" 

"We'll be there," Taz told her. She ended the call and turned to Up again. "Jou were saying."

He smiled. "Ready for another adventure?" he asked. 

"Definitely."

(AN: THE END! So, I'm debating whether or not I should write a 3rd part. I have some ideas, but I want to know what you all think. Please, leave a comment as to whether or not I should write another or just leave it be. I might write it without any comments, but if I get enough I definitely will. So please, tell me what you think! Love you!

-THD)