Author's Note:

Hey guys! This is my first fanfic so I hope it's ok! Reviews are the best! Feel free to PM me any time! :) Thanks so much for reading!

It was the first day of school at the Starship Ranger Academy. Lieutenant Up had heard there was a new recruit coming in to train in combat: a person he rescued from the robot attack down on Earth.

The strangest part of it all was that this new recruit was a girl, much smaller than the first-year ensigns and a year younger than all of the intakes. There were tons of rumors flying around, because of her strange past and relationship with the best commander the Academy had ever seen. Tragically, the robots, in their merciless rampage, killed the commander and most of the other people in the neighborhood.

When Up came to rescue survivors from the robots, he saved this girl. He barely had time to see her face, streaked with dirt, sweat and blood, before he handed her over to the other Rangers and went back to save more lives.

He wondered what she really looked like and waited with bated breath as she got off the ship.

Taz knew she wanted to be a Starship Ranger from the age of seven. So, as the ship pulled in to unload, she felt like her dreams were finally coming true. Her mamá had always said she should find a nice boy, and get married someday, have children.

But that was not Taz's opinion.

Who needs de chicos when I have all of dis? When I can be a Starship Ranger? Nothing else mattered. Taz set her mind to avoid boys all together. It only complicated things a little when she stepped out of the ship, and saw all the assembled commanders, lieutenants, and ensigns, but had her awed gaze met and matched by the clear blue eyes of Lieutenant Up.

Up's jaw hit the floor when he saw her. She was the most attractive person he had ever seen! Her dark hair, cut short, flopped gracefully over the red bandana she had tied around her head. She was tiny, much too small for the Ranger suit she was given. Her lips looked soft and were twisted in a smile. Up's heart skipped a beat when he looked into her eyes. They were warm chocolate brown, and reflected her joy. Despite her happiness, he could see the guarded look as well. He knew she had seen terrible things, and had too many painful experiences to be immediately friendly.

Up heard the Ambassador read off the names of the intakes, and laughed softly when the girl stopped him from reading her name off the list. She then said, with a thick Spanish accent, "Mi nombre is Taz. I do not go by any other. Deal with it."

Taz, he thought. What a great name. Up could tell already that she was passionate about her goals, and would not let anybody get in the way.

Each intake under 16 was assigned a mentor higher up in the ranks to help them. Up held his breath when the Ambassador read out the names of the young intakes and their mentors.

"Intake name will be read first, then the mentor they have been assigned to. First, Intake Thomas–Lieutenant Dean

Intake Trevor– Lieutenant Neville

Intake Taz–Lieutenant Up…"

More names followed, but Up was too busy freaking out to listen. Taz? Taz is mine? I get to be with Taz? What? This can't be real. This isn't happening. Dreams don't come true. But wait! What if she hates me? What if she doesn't want to be around me? And what if she DOES? Oh dead-god.

Thoughts like this continued to run through Up's head as Taz scanned the crowd, looking for a signal from her mentor. Up finally realized she was looking for him, raised his hand, and waved her over. She smiled in relief, and then began to worry.

Dios mio! Why did I get the caliente lieutenant as my mentor? I can't like him! Jou cannot have a relationship between ranks! What are jou talking about? Señor Up will not like jou! Just act natural. Está bien.

Taz finally reached Up and they made eye contact, blue to brown. Up blushed and looked away briefly, but stuck out his hand and introduced himself. They took a tour of the Academy, and ended at Taz's room.

"Well okay then, Taz, this here's your room. It has some voice knowin' thing so only certain people can open up the door. I already put my voice in it just in case you ever need anythin'. My room is right next-door and there's a door inside connectin' em. Come on over any time. I'll be in my room now." Up shuffled away awkwardly and went into his room.

Taz opened the door and walked slowly into her room. The bed was huge, and took up one wall. It sat next to a tall chest of drawers that was empty besides a strange blue headband and a book about something called Quidditch. Taz assumed someone else had left the items behind, but she was interested, so she put them in the bottom drawer. There was a door leading to a bathroom, a small kitchen area, and a couch facing a flat screen television. There was another door, less noticeable, that Taz assumed led to Up's room.

It was getting close to lights out when Taz realized she had nothing to wear to bed. She made a decision to just sleep in a tight, too-small tank top and her underwear, assuming that no one would see her. Exhausted from a day full of excitement, she fell asleep.

The nightmare came back. She was running, trying to escape the robots. People she loved, her parents, her siblings, her friends, were getting vaporized before her eyes. She could hear them screaming, but she couldn't move fast enough to save them. Taz was crying, screaming at the robots, but they wouldn't let her go.

The dream was interrupted when a firm but gentle hand grabbed her shoulder and lightly shook her awake. In the dark, she could see the muscled outline of Up, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay there Taz? I could hear you yellin' from my own room!"

Taz took a shaky breath and explained what had happened. Taz was wary at first, but felt that she could trust Up, that he would never tease her or call her awful names or beat her up. She felt safe for the first time in years.

In recounting the nightmare, tears flowed freely down Taz's face again. She was still curled up in her bed, with the covers pulled up to her chin. She tried to reassure Up that she would be fine, to keep up the strong and brave exterior, but her tears and still-trembling hands gave her away.

Up, who was only thinking about protecting Taz and helping her feel better, sat on the bed and put his arm around her shoulders. "Hey Taz…" He trailed off, suddenly second guessing himself. "Sí señor Up?" Her eyes, filled with curiosity, bore into his. He stuttered and stumbled over his words for a moment, but then began again. "Hey Taz… I was just wonderin' cause you seemed kinda scared, if you maybe wanted to come stay in my room for the night, so ya feel better?"

Taz was surprised, but his sincere care for her well being caused her to smile and nod timidly. Up grinned back, now relieved. "Well come on then Taz! Let's go!" She slid out of bed and stepped on to the floor, which was cold under her feet. She only realized the slightly inappropriate nature of her pajamas when Up faltered, blushed quickly, and clapped his hand over his eyes. Taz giggled at his gentlemanly nature, but pried his hand away from his face. "It is not a problema señor, I do not mind if jou see me like dis." He blushed further, but pulled his hand away and stared pointedly at a spot a few inches above her head. Taz laughed again and grabbed his hand.

The pair went into Up's room, which was nearly identical in decoration. Taz skipped over to his bed and climbed in. Only at this point did she notice Up's tight grey t-shirt and boxers. It was her turn to blush, but she simply stared at his massive outline until he turned in her direction. Up climbed in and curled up on the opposite side, facing away from Taz. She frowned slightly, but snuggled up to his warm back anyway.

"Up? How old are jou?" she wondered out loud. His mumbled reply meant he was nearly asleep, but Taz heard the answering "Twenty" clearly. Hmm… she thought. Five years isn't such a huge gap…