Introduction
Up had taken Spanish in high school. But the only words he remembered were hola, gracias, and a couple of swear words that Commander Lopez would use during missions, but those would hardly be useful in his current situation.
He was still honored that Commander Lopez invited him to his daughter's quinceanera though. Hardly any Lieutenants got to be a part of their Commander's personal lives. But him and Up were close. He was pretty much Up's mentor, and the closest thing to a father he had.
He guided Up through the crowd of people,stopping every once in a while to introduce him to a member of his large family. Up would smile politely and nod, acting as if he could understand a word of their fast Spanish.
"Oh, there she is!" Lopez said, dragging him to the left. "Tasmine! Vienen aqui!"
A small girl in a poofy white dress walked over to them. Lopez had told Up that his daughter was fifteen, but she look so tiny that she could easily pass for twelve. She looked exactly like a miniature, female version of her father, with the same raven-colored hair, hers in an ornate bun, and the same chocolate-brown eyes.
"Que pasa?" she asked, looking slightly annoyed. She had her father's voice too, a thick Hispanic accent.
"Tasmine, this is Lieutenant Up."
Up held out his hand, and she shook it. "So you're the Lieutenant that Papa's told me so much about?" She gave him a look that was so uncannily similar to the look her father always had when checking out the new recruits.
"Uh, yeah..." something about the way she studied him felt really unnerving.
"Interesting..."
"Tasmine!" they heard a woman call.
"Coming, Mama!" Tasmine called back. She turned back to Up, an amused expression on her face. "I gotta go." she said hurriedly. "See you later, Teniente Up."
She left, and as she walked away, Up noticed that she was wearing combat boots under her dress.
"Combat boots?" he asked.
Lopez smiled. "She sure is something else." he sighed. "She's gonna make a mighty fine Ranger one day."
Then, the explosions started.