Sorry for the delay, I've been moving house and getting sorted to go back to university this weekend, so it's been a bit hectic! As always, thank you so much for reading.

She reached the control area for the drop pod in record time, but found that it had already gone. Cursing she pulled out her communications device and started shouting at Up through it.

"Okay, okay Taz! Calm down now!" Up was yelling back. "I said we were leaving in five minutes and you weren't back, you know the rules!"

"Yes, Commander," she said sarcastically. "But it's your fault for sending me out when you were leaving in five! You don't even have your guns now idiota!"

"We'll be fine Taz, don't worry. You should probably go for a lie down or a nice bubble bath, I'm sure all that running around isn't good for the baby."

Suddenly something clicked.

"You wanted me to get left behind, didn't you?" she said in a dangerously low voice.

"What? Don't be so silly Taz, I needed-gulp-those guns…" Up trailed off, feeling the blast of Taz's glare as clearly as if he was standing next to her. "Okay fine, I just wanted you both safe! Don't hate me for it Taz!"

"Shut up! You don't own me or this baby! I'm still a ranger and I am gonna get this dead-God damn job done!"

Taz terminated the call to the sound of Up's protests and chucked the zappers on the floor, before sinking down beside them. She'd never been deliberately left behind for any mission, and this was the first time since she graduated that Up was fighting without her. She slammed her fists on the floor. This was all his fault! He was the one who'd gotten her pregnant, he was the one who had abandoned her to go and fight in the biggest battle since the robot wars!

"They left without you then?"

Taz looked up, and sure enough, Howard was stood at the entrance, looking as though he'd not only been made Commander, but president of the whole Galactic League.

"Piss off, Howard," she spat back bitterly. She didn't need his gloating on top of everything else.

"I was just going to offer you the last place in my drop pod, but if you're going to be like that…"

She looked up at him and he offered a hand to help her up off the floor.

"You serious hombre?" Taz asked in disbelief. "What's the catch?" Her eyes narrowed.

"I have two requests," he smiled charmingly, she sighed.

"Si?"

"Number one; I want you to have that drink with me."

"...Si."

"And número dos; I want to know why Up left you behind in the first place, none of this "I was late so he went without me" crap, because Up doesn't go anywhere without you unless there's a good reason."

Taz paused momentarily, then nodded.

"I will have uno drink with you, endender? And I will tell you why he left me over that drink, deal?"

"No deal. I want to know now," he said, just as his own communication device started beeping. "Or indeed as we run to catch my pod, come on."

He grabbed her hand and they hurtled off to section F. The corridors were empty now, the rangers all having descended to the planet below. They arrived, panting at section F and were quickly hurried into the airlock. Once seated and strapped in, Howard began to question her once more.

"So come on, tell me why he abandoned you," he nudged her. "I thought he cried when you weren't around."

"Uno; if you insult him again, I will shoot you. Dos; I said I would tell you later."

"Uh-uh, no way, I said I'd take you down if you told me why he wouldn't take you. I'm putting my neck on the line Taz, as soft as Up is I still don't wanna be on the receiving end of his temper."

"I hope he shoots you." She fiddled with her gun, Howard put a hand on hers to stop her.

"Have you fallen out?" he asked softly.

"No," she replied defiantly, but her voice wobbled and she pulled away, continuing to turn the zapper over in her hands.

"Landing in 1 minute! Everybody prepare for disembarking!"

"Taz, I mean it, you are not leaving this vessel until I know why you were left behind."

"I-" She paused, looking around for a distraction.

"Tazia!"

"Don't call me that!"

"30 seconds!"

"Then tell me why!"

"I can't!"

"Taz-!"

"10 seconds!"

"Bien! I'm- I'm pregnant," Taz said, her voice cracking as she wrestled with the straps holding her to the chair which were tangled on her gun. Howard gaped at her.

"Y-you're what?"

"Don't make me say it again."

"Okay rangers, this is it GO GO GO!"

Taz leapt from her seat as the strap finally came free and Howard followed, still looking shocked.

"You can't be," he hissed as they fell in line. "Is it his?"

"Do you think I want to be?" she hissed back over her shoulder. "And if by "his" you mean Commander Up's, then si."

"I knew it! I knew there was something going on! That's why you wouldn't go out with me all that time I suppose," he mused.

"No, I wouldn't go out with you because I don't like you," she shot back.

They had reached the base and Taz broke away from the ranks to find out where Up and the others had been stationed. Howard hesitated, then followed.

"Should you been down here if y'know-" he gestured at her stomach and she stopped abruptly, her hand fastened around his throat.

"Now you listen to me," she said threateningly. "If anyone and I mean ANYONE finds out about this, I will remove your legs and I will beat you with the bloody end until you are dead, entender?"

"Yes," he said weakly, looking green.

"Good. Now I am going to find my section. I will see you in the bar, 8pm sharp. I don't hang around."

"Wait, you still want to go?"

She looked at him, an amused smile on her face.

"I promised I would, I don't break my promises," she saluted him and ran off, leaving him staring after her.