Happy summer everybody! This chapter took me a while to come up with, but I hope you like it. The last chapter got me thinking about the rest of the characters in Starship and I figured I should introduce another character from the show itself (the story is getting close to the time when Starship took place). As usual, read, review, and enjoy! Hugs and butterfly kisses, ravenclawdancer4999.
A few weeks after Specs had gotten the say so from Taz that she "wasn't half bad" at hand-to-hand combat, she was working in the shop on one of the smaller ships to be used for minor missions. Just as she found the reason the braking device was sticking, her spectrometer went off on the table by the door. The surprise was enough to cause her to hit her head. The oil on her hands smeared on to her face as she rubbed her forehead moodily. Wiping her hands on her coveralls, she checked the page.
"Crew meeting in my office in ten minutes. –Commander Up."
Sighing exasperatedly, Specs slid back under the ship and closed the hatch. When she slid out, she hurriedly picked up her tools and shoved them back in her bag, which she then threw over her shoulder. Checking her watch, she sped out the door and hurried off to the commander's office. Once she arrived, she found Taz and Krayonder waiting for her in front of the door.
"Jou know why we're here?" Taz asked.
"I have no idea whatsoever," Specs shook her head, "Krayonder, what did you do this time?"
"Dude, why is it always my fault?" Krayonder scowled.
"Because it generally is," Specs shrugged, "Don't you recall when Commander Up instructed all of us on the safety rules aboard the ship because you were riding a hoverboard in the corridors?"
"Or dat time dat jou stacked all the libros in the library to barricade the puerta?" Taz raised an eyebrow.
"What about the time when you-" Specs started.
"Okay, fine, I get it," Krayonder interrupted, "So I've done a few things that are against the rules before, but I swear I didn't do anything this time!"
"Only una manera to find out," Taz commented, keying in the passcode. The door slid open and all three rangers walked in.
On entering, they saw the commander talking to someone they had never seen before. She was taller than both Specs and Taz, but not by much, with golden blonde hair cut in a stylish bob. The girl wore the issued blue uniform for science officers, except hers appeared to be tailored to actually fit. As she turned to face the group, her bright blue eyes lit up and she gave a dazzling smile. It was only then that Specs realized just how sloppy the crew looked at that given moment. Taz was sweaty from her morning wind sprints, Krayonder had spilled something down the front of his uniform, and Specs was still in her oil-smudged coveralls, recalling the oil that was still on her forehead
"Crew, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Up nodded, putting a hand on the new girl's shoulder.
"Hi, I'm February!" the blonde giggled, "Like the month, but a person!"
"February is a recent transfer from a different starship, appointed here by the G.L.E.E. to prepare for a special solo mission she'll be going on in a few months, so I want you all to make her feel welcome. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," Krayonder replied.
"Of course, Commander," Specs added.
"Claro que sí," Taz shrugged.
"I'm just so happy to meet all of you," February smiled, bounding up to the crew, "I just know we'll all be really good friends."
Without warning, she threw her arms around Taz's neck and hugged the petite ranger. Taz immediately stiffened at the contact as Specs and Krayonder inhaled sharply. Taz hated to be touched and wouldn't hesitate to pull a knife on anyone who tried. However, the petite latina managed to restrain herself as February hugged Specs, then Krayonder.
"Well, now that you're all acquainted," Commander Up nodded, "I'll show February her quarters."
"Like, why would I need coins?" the blonde asked, her expression clueless.
"No, darlin'," he chuckled, "Where you're going to be staying."
"Oh, goodie!" February exclaimed, following Up out of the office.
"You're all dismissed," Up called to the crew on the way out.
The door slid shut and the three rangers looked at each other incredulously. Taz was the first to break the silence.
"How in the HELL did dat chica get on any crew, let alone dis one?" Taz growled, "February, like the month, but a person…"
"Yeah, how did she get to be a science officer?" Krayonder asked disbelievingly.
"My guess is as good as yours," Specs murmured, "She seems like she came from a privileged background - I think her father might have paid for her position."
"That's messed up," Krayonder shook his head, "I'm not even that smart and I had to earn my spot in the G.L.E.E."
"Unfortunately, it's the way of the universe," Specs sighed, "Actions may speak louder than words, but money speaks louder than actions."
"Si, es la regla de oro," Taz frowned, "Whoever has the gold, makes the rules."
"So what can we do about it?" Krayonder remarked.
"As of right now, nada," Taz shrugged, "Just pray that after this mission, she'll leave."
The three rangers continued to go about their business for the next few days, before Taz stalked up to Krayonder and Specs during dinner one night.
"Jou won't believe what I just heard en el gimnasio," Taz hissed, gesturing for them to lean in closer, "February was trying to talk to me and was telling me about her mission. Do jou remember dat creep, Junior?"
"Dr. Spaceclaw's son?" Krayonder cut in.
"Si. Apparently, he was the one to give February dis mission," Taz explained, "And he asked her all dese extrano questions, como, 'How big is jour esophagus?' and "Do jou have a gag reflex?'"
"He was, hitting on her during an interview?" Specs commented, a tone of disgust in her voice.
"Jou want to know what I think?" Taz muttered, watching February walk in on the far side of the mess hall, "I think dat chica slept her way on to dis crew."
"Junior always was a sleaze," Krayonder admitted, "I wouldn't be surprised if he-"
"Hi, guys!" a high-pitched voice interrupted, "What are you all talking about?"
The three rangers whipped around to see February, smiling brightly and holding her tray.
"Nothing!" Krayonder exclaimed.
"Calculus, mostly," Specs blurted out.
"Muy aburrido," Taz added.
"Um, cool," February replied, "So, do you mind if I sit with you?"
"We were, actually just about to leave," Specs answered, looking at Krayonder and Taz. "Correct?"
"Right," Krayonder nodded fervently, "I have to, wash my uniform."
"Pull the cuchillos out of my wall," Taz continued.
"I have to clean the shop before inspection, tomorrow," Specs lied, knowing good and well the shop was already clean.
"Okay," February responded, slightly taken aback by the abruptness of their answers, "Maybe tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, maybe," Krayonder said lightly, as he followed Specs and Taz out of the cafeteria. The days that followed were no different – every time February asked, there was a new reason why she couldn't sit with them. It eventually got to the point that February stopped trying and started sitting by herself.
At one point, Specs wondered whether or not they were doing the right thing by excluding her. She looked over to see February flipping through a Forever 2100 catalogue. Who was she kidding? Specs had met girls like her before – they never wanted anything to do with misfits like her, Krayonder, and Taz.
Almost a month after February had arrived on the ship, Taz and Specs were doing their laundry and talking.
"And den she picked one of the zappers and said, 'Is dis a blowdryer?'" Taz snorted, pulling her cot-sized sheets out of the dryer.
"Thank goodness she didn't try to use it," Specs chuckled, "Or else we would have a great deal of paperwork on our hands."
"Me soprendo que she hasn't hurt herself yet," Taz smiled.
"Sometimes it surprises me that she can even function," Specs remarked, "Someone like her should never have become a ranger."
Suddenly, the two heard a small, choked sob and turned to see February running away, a basket of dirty laundry tucked at her side. Specs immediately felt her heart sink into her stomach – she had heard them talking about her.
"What was dat all about?" Taz commented.
"She heard us, Taz," Specs responded quietly.
"Mierda," Taz cursed under her breath, "Now she's going to tell Commander Up and we're both going to be in trouble."
But Specs was hardly concerned about being punished by Commander Up, which was new for her. She felt sick, realizing just how cruel they had all been. Immediately grabbing her half-dry belongings, Specs threw them back in her laundry basket and sprinted off in the direction of the living quarters.