Untold But Unforgotten (Taz/Up Fanfiction) EDITING PERIOD COMPLETE!

Chapter 6

Taz twitched in her sleep. Up had a meeting with Dr. Spaceclaw, Head of the Galactic League, and was getting the formal promotion to Commander, so this was one of the few times she had to sleep on her own, in her own room, and, as always, she had nightmares. Or, the nightmare. The same nightmare she always had when she wasn't with Up. The quinceañera nightmare.

Her eyes flew open to see a pair of baby blue eyes staring down at her. She did the only sensible thing: shot out her hand and slugged whoever it was in the gut.

Taz sat up in her bed to see a mass of blonde hair and perfectly manicured nails groaning and clutching her stomach.

"What the hell, Taz!" Marie whined, sitting up. "Why'd you punch me?"

"Why'd jou hover over my bed like that, idiota?" Taz snapped, stretching and standing up. When she realized Taz wasn't going to help Marie, February hurried over and helped her onto the bed.

Marie took a deep breath and glared at Taz. "I just was waiting for you to wake up to see if it’s true."

"If what was true?" What rumors had the idiotas at this school been spreading around this time?

"That you're gonna graduate tonight and run off with Commander Up," February said, clearly eager for confirmation.

Taz rolled her eyes. "We aren't 'running off,' I'm going to be his Lieutenant. And that's only if-" she stopped, shirt halfway on. "Oh mi Dios muerto!" she gasped.

"What's wrong?" Specs asked. Taz was running around, quickly pulling on clothes, messily brushing a few knots out of her Mohawk, and tying her bandana on lopsided.

"The Calculus test! That's the deciding factor! If I passed then I can graduate! I’ll finally be an official Ranger!! Oh mi Dios muerto!" Taz began talking so fast she unknowingly morphed into Spanish, continuously babbling while the others just stared, unfamiliar with this side of her.

"What?" February said, not following the rapid foreign language.

Specs sighed. "Leave her be for now. She's just excited." Over the months she'd become braver around the girls.

Taz ran out the door, still rapidly mumbling to herself in Spanish. Finally she was outside the Calculus room, and a million worries hit her. What if she didn't pass? What if Up changed his mind and chose a different Lieutenant? What if she had failed another class?

She shook her head, as if to dispel all of these thoughts. "I will graduate and be Up's Lieutenant before the night is out," she whispered to herself before pushing open the door.

"Up! Up!" came a yell from down the hall. Familiar voice, unfamiliar tone. She must be really excited to show this much positive emotion in public. Up smiled and continued eating his breakfast, waiting for her to arrive and glad that there were only a few other Rangers and teachers in the cafeteria, seeing as most students were lazy to get up. She didn't need to be subject to any more rumors.

Taz came sliding in the room, nearly knocking over the Chemistry professor. "Lo siento, señor!" she yelled, in too much of a hurry to check that she was speaking in English, or to even yell at him that he should've gotten out of her way.

She skidded to a halt next to him. "I passed! Up, Up, I passed!” Then she resumed her rambling in Spanish.

Up couldn't help but smile. He only recognized a few phrases because they were the ones she used in Spanish, even when speaking English overall, like "Oh mi Dios muerto!" instead of switching it to "Oh my dead God!" But everyone was used to it. Actually, it might seem completely off if she began switching that phrase to English, or ones like "idiota.”

"That's great, Taz! Come on, let's head down to the main offices. They'll handle your graduation. It'll be quick and easy, probably just a few words and a diploma, maybe a few awards for your achievements while you were still a student. Let's go," he said, ditching his tray and walking towards the door. About halfway to the offices she grabbed his hand and began swinging their arms, so high they were almost level with his shoulders.

Up was as elated as her, if not more. Now that the Academy wouldn't be in the way, and they'd be on all missions together, plus the fact that the hung out together every spare moment, they'd be practically inseparable from now on. He looked down at Taz. He loved her smile, and wished he could see it more often, though he already saw it more than anyone alive probably ever had. Even her family, as he was the first person Taz had opened up to. She said so herself. She must have had a hard fifteen years, not letting anyone in on her life. Even to him she was very vague when it came to who she was before meeting him.

The ceremony was quite dull, actually. The Headmaster of the Academy droned on and on, as if he were graduating a whole class. About twenty minutes into his speech a screen beeped.

"Urgent Message. Urgent Message. Dr. Spaceclaw Calling. Urgent Message," it read on the screen, a robotic (Taz shivered) voice saying them loudly over the intercom. The Headmaster paled and clicked a button on the pad in front of the screen.

Taz had never seen Spaceclaw before. She hadn't known what to expect. She blinked, honestly surprised. He was just a normal guy! She had actually subconsciously been picturing Darth Vader from that Star Wars movie her and Up watched. She peeked at Up, but he was just standing at attention in front of the Head of the Galactic League. She mentally strangled herself then followed his example.

Spaceclaw had light brown hair and brown eyes. He had a tanned face, as though he enjoyed time in the sun. He was rather built as well. To be honest, he was pretty good-looking, considering his age.

"Hello, Commander Up, Headmaster Charon, Miss Lopez," he said, nodding to us, trying to seem formal, but failing as a smile tugged his lips. Hearing that formal, deep voice with this laid-back man was almost comical, but the realization that she was still 'Miss Lopez,' and that she didn't have a title yet held back her laugh.

"Dr. Spaceclaw. To what do we owe the pleasure of this call?" the Headmaster said, respectfully.

Spaceclaw smiled. "Can't a man call to congratulate the youngest Lieutenant to ever graduate in the Academy's history?"

The Headmaster blinked. "Oh. O-Of course, sir. Miss Lopez," he stuttered, gesturing to the screen.

"Idiota," she muttered under her breath.

"What was that, Lieutenant?" Spaceclaw asked, clearly amused. Taz looked up at the screen.

She spoke fearlessly. "I called him an idiota, sir. Because, jou see, I can hear perfectly well, and I know where the screen is. I don't need him pointing me in the right direction."

There was a moment of silence, then Spaceclaw bust out laughing. "I think I’m going to like you-"

"Taz," she said, cutting him off.

"Taz. Right, Lieutenant Taz. That has a nice ring to it," he said, thinking in his own little world.

Up cleared his throat. "She hasn't officially been made my Lieutenant yet, sir. She hasn't even officially graduated."

Spaceclaw rolled his eyes. "Just give her the diploma! And the ceremony is just a formality. We need her by your side ASAP so you two can start planning."

"Planning what?" Taz asked sharply.

Spaceclaw looked startled. "Didn't I tell you? You two are going to lead a group into battle in three days’ time. You'll be downing some robots. If you succeed we'll be one final battle away from winning the war!"

Taz and Up exchanged a glance before nodding. They were needed, and weren't going to back down.