A/N: Hello all! Sorry for the delay in this longer fic, I like to have at least to chapters ahead of the one I'm posting, done, so in case things come up or I lose my muse, I have things to post for you all. Now, as a quick note, I work Taz and Up's ages a little differently. I have Taz aged as about 23, and Up as 30 during Starship. In my head, logically speaking ,Up would have been a Lieutenant when he met Taz at her Quincenera. Given the war time efforts, this would mean he could be as young as 22 because more people would be promoted to make up for those killed in the war. This would give a seven year age gap, perfectly acceptable gap for a relationship. Also, my Taz and Up tend to be a tad OOC, but no one is ever spot on with a character, so I hope I'll be forgiven. I tried my best to keep them, and this is a FANfiction so there is some lee-way.

Also, in my fic I have Taz's real name as Katia, because it is my favorite traditional Mexican name. The reason she is called Taz comes in later on, so don't worry, it will be explained. I didn't want to make her name Tazia or Tacia, as some people do, because I feel as if Taz's name would have more of a story. On the topic of names, since we don't know Up's first name or Taz's last name, I have hers as Lopez- as in Lauren from Starkid -and Up has no last name because he was orphaned and raised in the Starship Academy/ Orphanage. But, that will come in later, like most of this information.

As a last little note, before my disclaimer, the first three chapters are a little confusing. In this one I have Taz's Quinceañera, then how she was admitted into the academy under Up's supervision. In the next chapter I skip a few years and give some insight into Taz's time in the Academy, then how she is thrown into war with Up. This chapter will end with a lead up to Up's famous injury. And the third chapter will skip to the hospital after his injury, then the recovery before Starship. I will have a few chapters run through the play- with a few edits and TUp moments -but only two or three before going on to after the play. The time line is a bit sketchy, but I'll explain it more in chapter two, so it's less confusing.

So, I don't own Starship or it's characters, only any OC I decide to throw in and this plot line. Enjoy!

Chapter One: Fifteen Going on Starship Ranger

Our Story

When Taz was younger, she used to think about her Quinceañera and what it would be like. This was, of course, when all of her older cousins were going through their own Quinceañeras, and she was only four or five, so everything her older cousins did she wanted to do as well. As she grew up, however, she realized she had more in common with the male side of her family then the female, and soon her Quinceañera became a sentencing day, rather then a lofty daydream. Of course, this day was before Taz the Starship Ranger Lieutenant, before even Taz the Starship Ranger Ensign, under the command of Commander Up, training to get the job done. This was when Lieutenant Taz didn't even exist, but Katia Naomi Lopez did exist. You see, before she was Taz, she was Katia, the youngest out of five children, the only girl, and daughter of an important Commander in the Robot Wars.

"Katia! Katisita!" Her mother yelled from downstairs of the large ranch style Mexican home. " Jou will be late to the entrance of your own Quinceañera!"

The girl in question, a young teen with big brown eyes, tan skin, and long dark hair, was scowling in the mirror. Her mama had spent weeks finding the perfect dress for her Quinceañera, but the girl would have been happier in her worn out jeans, a tank top, and her combat boots. Instead, she was swallowed up by taffeta and tulle. The dress itself was beautiful, Katia gave her mama that much; it was the color of champagne that she had seen her parents drink, a sparkling golden honey color. There were sequins tastefully sewn all around and it was strapless. The dress itself had a tight bodice that skirted out at the waist, the sequin work moving down to the girl's knee before it became rough taffeta and then fell to her ankles. She felt like a golden cupcake, and even in the flat golden slippers- smooth silk on her tiny feet -she felt wobbly and unsure of her footing. She did not look nor feel like Katia, the girl who could out run all the boys in town, out climb even some of the men, stood her ground against her four older brothers, and was as tough as her father's at reputation.

She tugged at a loose curl, her dark thick hair in a half up half up do, pinned at the back of her neck and curled around her heart-shaped face. Her lips were bright red, her eyes dark and smokey, and her shoulders dusted in shimmering dust that her cousin Juanita had called body glitter. There was a simple golden locket against the hollow of her throat, a gift from her brothers that played her favorite Mexican hymn when opened, and clunky gold beads on her wrists. She wore a ring on each finger, every one from a different relative in good wishes of her coming out as a woman. She felt more like a doll then herself, but she knew the moment this whole day was over, she could go back to being herself. No dress, no makeup, and no silly three inch stiletto hold death traps to dance in. She would simply be Katia Lopez again, toughest girl in her town.

"I'm coming mama! Dios se podría pensar que iba a llegar tarde a mi funeral!" Katia called down, walking uneasily on the steps. She was met by a chorus of oohs and aahs from here family taking her to the backyard where the party was. She scowled but smiled when her father came over, hugged her, and slid his gift into her hands: a light and well made dagger he had shown her the night before, but told her he would give to her the next day for her actual birthday. He promised her that he would give her first knife to her, if she was good and got through her Quinceañera. She grinned, tucking the knife into her garter, high up her leg, while her family was distracted by the flowers her mama dragged in, gifts from the boys she was to dance with tonight." Alright I'm ready..."

The next hour was filled with dancing, eating, mingling, and a whirlwind of access that Katia couldn't remember all at once. She had sat down to give her aching feet- three inch gold heels did nothing for comfort -a rest, when her father came over with a man that looked a few years older than herself. He had dark brown hair, striking blue eyes, and an impressive mustache to match his hair color. There was a streak of silver on the left side of the man's military cut hair, but even with that he seemed young.

"Mi querida," her father said proudly," This is my Lieutenant. Up, this is my daughter, the reason behind this big fiesta."

"Hello Ms. Lopez," The man called Up said with a humble tilt of his head. His gruff voice had a southern lilt to it that Katia was not used to, but she liked it on him. He gave a rather formal bow and her father slapped him on the back good naturedly." Sorry Commander, it's hard to be informal when you've just come off of a four month tour of duty on some alien planet."

"Jou are a ranger? Un Explorador" Katia said excitedly. She moved her chair aside, offering the free seat to the man." Come tell me about jour trip, papa always tells me about his. I love to hear about all the far off worlds! Pro favor señor Up?"

The man gave her father a questioning glance and when he nodded with a chuckle. Up smiled, more at ease now, and sat beside the girl, and began telling her about the planet he had helped colonize in hopes of aide against the Robot Army. The place he and his team had gone was a planet entirely underwater, and the team had been forced to use old fashioned scuba equipment to make peace with the natives. Up was retelling Katia on how he had finally gotten the king to sign their agreement, when the first explosion started.

"Que fue eso?" Katia cried. Up's eyes were wide and he suddenly stood, yanking Katia up with him and away from the sounds." Señor Up! What the hell is going- ah!"

Before Katia was allowed to give her questions, or any exclamations, another explosion erupted on their left. She was thrown back against Up's chest, she cringed as her shoulder was jammed uncomfortable, but she kept moving towards wherever Up seemed to be trying to take her. Suddenly she heard a high pitch scream, then more, and a voice crying no cursing in Spanish that could only belong to her Tia Lynda.

"Jou need to tell me right now, what is going on!" Katia cried over the explosions that seemed to be all around now. Up glanced backwards, then slid them behind a large oak tree." Up!"

"Your father sent for me to get some top secret info on the Robot Wars," Up said yanking a zapper out of his supply belt. Katia nodded and glanced around, watching as she saw the robots now, hovering about the area and shooting at her familia." The robot bastards much have heard and got sent in... So now we're under attack. Which means you need to stay here Ms. Lopez-"

"Katia, my name is Katia, Up," Katia said. She tore her hair band out, yanking the thick hair up into a high pony tail away from her face, she en leaned down and tore the dress her mama had spent so long finding, until there was a clean slit up to her thigh, and she could move around." And I intend to fight if any of them find me."

"Just stay down, Katia," Up said, his tongue slipping over the foreign Spanish name. She huffed as he ran off, and watched him take down a few of the robots easily. She was too distracted by the ability this man had, as he entered battle, to realize three robots had snuck up on her. It wasn't until she was grabbed by the ankle and strung up in the tree- now bound all the way from her ankles to her shoulders thanks to whatever device the robots had -that she pondered maybe Up had been right to tell her to hide.

"Well hijo de puta, come at me now that I'm strung up like you're sick piñata!" Katia cried. The robots traded metallic impressions of laughs, and one of the three raised their metallic arm, to hit her, but he fritzed then fell, to reveal Up holding what was once his internal interface.

"Put her down, now." Up said, his deep blue eyes dangerous, scary even to Katia who knew that he was here to save her. The robots gave another metallic laugh, and both headed towards Up. Katia still isn't sure on how it all happened, but before she could say "Feliz Navidad" both robots were on the ground, now not working. Up cut her down, next, and caught her, still in a roped up bundle from the robots. He easily cut those off and she yanked her papa's knife from high on her leg, now ready if more robots came." I told you to hide!"

"They blind sided me! Don't yell because I was ambushed!" Katia yelled back. They didn't have much longer to argue, however, because more robots approached and they were fighting. Katia bested quite a few of the metal beasts, even with just her fathers knife and her little training in hand to hand combat. She did get a few wounds, though; her arms had new scratches and forming bruises, her legs were scratched and scraped, her heels long ago tossed off so the soles of her feet were sore too. She felt a sharp pain in her side from where a robot had slung its metal arm into her chest, and she bet it was a bruised rib." Up I can't take much more..."

"You won't need to, Katia," Up said glancing up at the sky. She glanced up as well and saw a Starship Battle Ship, a containment tube already descending towards them." Katia? Your head is bleeding!"

"I think the last robot got me..." Katai said, ear vision blurred. up caught her just as the tube hit ground, and she lost consciousness.

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The next time Katia woke up, it was to the sound of a steady beeping, the smell of antiseptic, and a warm hand engulfing her own. She opened her eyes to find she was covered in a thin hospital blanket, her arm was attached to a machine and different tubes, and Up was asleep over the edge of the hospital be, his hand in hers. She lifted her free hand, and brushed some hair off of his forehead, and he stirred awake, his blue eyes still sleepy.

"They're all dead, aren't they?" Katia asked. Up rubbed his eyes, more awake at her question, she didn't speak again, waiting, and he nodded moments later. She felt her lower lip quiver, but she bit down on it, to stop the movement." Where will I go Señor Up?"

"You'll come with me," Up said defiantly," I can take custody of you, or at least responsibility... And I don't have much since I'm only a Ranger, but I'll protect you, and I know your father would have wanted someone a little familiar to help... Katia-"

"Please don't call me that.." She whimpered. Up nodded, and suddenly the tears broke out. Katia's eyes over flowed with the wet substance and her body broke into sobs. Up climbed into the narrow hospital bed with her, holding her to his strong chest until she was calmer." They're really all gone... Mama, papa, all my cousins and tias... Ronaldo, Jose, and Philipe... They're all gone..."

"I know you must feel so lost..." Up said. Katia glanced up and saw his lips quivering like her own." I lost my family to some of the first ever Robot Raids... Ws sent to a Starship Orphanage Academy when I was barely four... Its the worst ever feeling to have no one... But you have me, if you want... I'll help you and take care of you, whatever you want I'll try and get it to you."

"Up, I want to be a Starship Ranger, to avenge mi familia..." Katia said, her voice stone cold and her eyes determined.

"Katia-"

"Don't call me that! That's a name for a little girl, not for me..." She said.

"Well what the hell am I supposed to call ya then?"

"Taz," She said suddenly, without thinking." Papa used to call me Taz when I was younger, because he said I was like the classic cartoon. The one about the Tasmanian Devil who would randomly spin into tempers..."

"Okay, Taz it is..." Up said softly. He sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face and then glanced down at the girl in his arms." Alright Taz, we'll make you a Starship Ranger... I'll have you enrolled in the academy, under my care... It'll take some string pullin', but the Academy General owes me."

And so, that day, Katia Naomi Lopez died, but Taz Lopez was born. She was different from who she had once been, but in a way she was tougher, more worldly, and better because Katia hadn't had Up.

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A/N: Alright, chapter two is typed but I'll post it after I get a few reviews! So R&R for speedy updates!