It had been two weeks since Up's return to the base. He and Taz spent time together, but things never returned to the way their friendship had been before watching The Karate Kid. Today, they were working out in the gym, Taz lifting weights, and Up doing pull-ups. Part of him wanted to see her transferred to another base so he could keep his feelings in check, but who knows what could happen to her then. There was another mission coming up, and he hadn't told her that she wasn't going yet. He couldn't put her in danger. He needed her to stay safe.

Lieutenant Faldon dropped a large weight on the ground, snapping Up back into reality.

"Corporal!" Up yelled.

Faldon looked frightened, knowing that he angered the scariest commander on base. "S-s-sir?"

"Quit your stutterin' and be more careful! Don't make me come over there and teach you how to be careful!"

Faldon struggled to put the weight back, and Up heard Taz quietly laughing.

Up had finally admitted to himself that he liked her. Her smile, her laugh, her raven hair, her eyes, her sarcasm, her slight body. Was it natural for him to want to jump down from the bar, knock the weights from her hands and kiss her? To have her body under him while he explore her mouth with his tongue, explore her body with his hands, for her to caress him tightly? Snap out of it, thought Up, you're going soft. She wouldn't have him anyways. A man who looked old enough to be her father. No, she wouldn't have him, and so he wouldn't have her. That was that. Up dropped down from the bar. One hundred pull-ups, maybe you are going a bit soft.

Up was yelling at Faldon, like usual. Taz couldn't help but laugh. Everybody on the base was terrified of him, and there were times when she was scared of him too. He was the best commander in the G.L.E.E., and his reputation was phenomenal. Taz thought about Up a lot now. He was in her dreams, dreams that dared to bring to life what couldn't happen. Romances between officers were looked down upon.

Taz stood up to change weight machines and saw Up doing pull-ups. In her dreams she would kiss him passionately, but this was reality. She needed to stay tough, like Up.

Up began to walk to the locker room, and Taz ran after him.

"Up!" Taz shouted.

He turned around. "Yes, Taz?"

"I was just wondering if you would tell me when there would be another mission. Por favor, Up. I want to fight!"
"Taz, I-" Up stopped. "We'll talk about this later."

Up didn't tell her about the mission, and by this point, he didn't plan to. They were watching another old movie now, Red Dawn. In two hours, he'd be taking a crew to Mexico to fight off more robots, and Mexico was the last place he wanted to take Taz. His arm around her waist, they lay together on the bed. They'd been friends for a decade now. He couldn't deny his feelings for her, but he needed their friendship more than anything.

Taz fell asleep before the movie ended, her head resting against his chest. Very carefully, Up rolled out of bed and prepared for the mission. With some hesitation, he kissed the top of Taz's head. The smell of her hair made him wish he didn't have to go. If only he could freeze time. He glanced at his watch and saw that time wasn't on his side tonight.

The door became stuck when he tried to leave. So much for letting her sleep, Up thought before slamming the door shut.

"Up?"

"Shit," he muttered before running to the shuttle.

Taz woke up to the sound of the door slamming. Now where was Up going? Taz quickly got up and opened the door. Rangers dressed for battle passed by.

"Walondoler!" Taz yelled at one of the Rangers. "What's going on?"

"Err…" Private Walondoler looked uncomfortable, "Taz, we weren't supposed to say anything, but we're leaving for Mexico. Up told us not to tell you, so please don't hurt me!"

"Que?! What do you mean there is a mission?" Up hid this from her. The one thing that made her happy, and he hid it from her. Up was going to be surprised, and probably furious, but she was going to show him that she was not to be messed with. Taz punched the door, making Walondoler jump. "I'm coming with you."