Taz watched Root throw his things into the airlock of the smaller starship that would take him, Krayonder, and Up to Aldreaan. "Aw don't worry Taz, I'll make sure that your knuckleheads don't have too much fun without ya." said Root.
Taz said sharply, "Don't joke about missions."
Root shrugged and crossed into the airlock as Krayonder arrived, lugging his bags. She glared at him and Krayonder looked at her smugly as he threw his bags into the airlock with Root, "Don't worry Taz, I'm sure that you were held behind only because there aren't enough seats for this mission. Else you would've for sure come!"
Taz nodded uncertainly, "I guess-"
Krayonder crossed into the air lock of the smaller ship bound for Alderaan, he pushed the button for the door and shouted after her, "And they only had room for the best rangers! Tough luck!" Wish me 'nd Up luck!"
The doors locked and cycled before Taz could dive under them to murder Krayonder. "I'll kill jou!" She shouted at him through the glass. Krayonder shook his head and pointed at his ears, miming deafness. Root was failing at hiding his laughter and she flipped Krayonder off for good measure.
Later that day Isa made Taz join her for lunch in one of the starship's nicer dining halls, knowing the young woman would stay shut in her room all day. Isa told Taz how Admiral Fathia wanted to move her to a permanent Earth base.
"The Admiral wouldn't force jou."
Vexed, Isa shrugged, "No, but would you refuse the Admiral?"
Taz shrugged.
"Yah, thought so. Still... I feel like I should. Yanno, duty and patriotism," said Isa before digging into her lunch
Taz scoffed and Isa smiled brightly, "Lovely, you've been in, for what, barely three years and you're already cynical."
"Almost three years," corrected Taz and with relief, she realized there wasn't a hard-rock knot in her throat as she said that. Isa drummed on the table, "Gosh. I hadn't realized...goodness, three years... Good job on not getting blown to dog food, ensign."
Taz's gave her a thumbs up and then flipped her off. Isa pretended not to see, "I forget you didn't join GLEE out of some patriotic bullshit like Up or Krayonder, or even Root." Taz grinned through a mouthful of chicken.
"Jou ask me? Krayonder thought he'd end up looking like the models from the GLEE recruitment posters he has hanging over his bed"
Isa gasped and cackled, "He does NOT!"
"He does!" insisted Taz.
"What an absolute boob," Isa tapped a finger against her teeth, "Well, we both know Root only joined because he's an ace at flying and 'cause he does strike a mighty fine pose in that fly suit, but I s'ppose you only ever help him take off the flight suit," Isa grinned at her but Taz sipped at her soda and ignored the jibe. "But Up, he's ridiculous-"
"Oh, lay off Up. He's sincere. Jou'd think GLEE was his religion."
Isa tipped her head and gave Taz a curious look. "I s'ppose you're right." She tossed her curly hair. Taz laughed, "Why'd jou join then?"
Isa sipped some of her drink. "In short? Because of my mom and my aunt. Wonderfully coarse women. Taught me everything I know, most of it."
She fell uncharacteristically silent and Taz had to prompt her, "Y que mas?"
Isa laughed, " Oh! Well, Shorty, if you have'ta know. My mom and aunt worked as Communications experts for GLEE but I didn't join to follow in their footsteps. I did it..." She smiled sheepishly, "I did it 'cause I think it's pretty neat to connect people across the galaxy. I feel important- and like I can change things- even though I'm just kinda one in a hundred thousand comms and in the end... not that important. But a lady can dream, can't I?"
Taz burst out laughing and Isa flapped her hand ruefully, "Oh g'on you! Laugh all you like! That's right!"
Taz's laughter tapered off, "I'm not laughing at jou. It's just funny que you think jou are unimportant." Taz took a gulp of her soda and when she looked at Isa again, Taz found her friend misty-eyed. "Gosh, aren't you just a mushy bugger after all."
Taz gaped at her helplessly but recovered to say, "If jou tell Up I will-"
"Pffft, as if Up would believe me." Isa's soft look disappeared and one of mischief replaced it. She took in a short breath, as if to say something, but then swallowed it and asked, "So when will your boys return?" She propped her head on a hand and looked at Taz with affection.
"A week, but Fathia's keeping the rest of us busy with maintenance."
"Really? What does an Admiral care what this one ship's maintenance log is?" Isa was astonished.
"Uhh, I meant Up. Up left instructions to-"
"Uh-huh," Isa gave her a knowing look, "You don't have to lie to me, missy."
Taz nodded with chagrin and Isa said, "Well Tazzie, it's been fun getting inadvertent intel outta you but I gotta go get some work done. Be good and don't muck up whatever the Admiral's got ya doing."
Up was still feeling the lag of transitioning from the planet to the starship when he walked into the gym. A couple of rangers acknowledged him and one pointed him towards the sand bags. Up was for a moment was transfixed by watching Taz teaching Isa some simple muy thai kicks. Taz smiled widely when she saw him. "Finally! Como estas? Come te fue? Y Krayonder?" She punched his arm with a taped hand, "Hellooo? This is Starship Bokanovsky to Commander, come in!"
Now Taz saw the worry in Up's eyes. Her blood ran cold. "Where's Krayonder?"
Up glanced from Taz to Isa. Taz's mouth thinned into a hard line and her face turned so pale that Isa put a hand on her back.
"Th' boy's alive...But..."
Taz shoved past him and ran out of the gym. Miserable, Up stood there and watched her run out.
"What on earth happened?" Isa quickly freed her hands from the tape.
"I don't know. Come on. Krayonder's in the medibay. Taz's gonna want to kick my ass afterwards, migh' as well not put it off."
"Should she?" asked Isa.
"Course not," said Up coldly, " But you know how she is when she gets in a rage."
"Sure," said Isa, still coolly.
Taz sprinted all the way to the medibay and arrived panting. A medic pointed her towards a room, "We gave him a tranquilizer, he's - Hey!"
The ball of thorns that was in Taz's throat shrank when she saw Krayonder sitting in a chair next to the bed with a vacant look on his face. She sat down next to him, Krayonder said, "S'all okay. They're gone." And he started shivering, violently, his shoulders shook as if he had been plunged into an icy stream. He was sweating and clammy and his pupils were the size of a needle point. Taz gripped his hand tightly but Krayonder kept on shaking. Taz dry swallowed her questions. She stayed only long enough to realize that Krayonder wasn't going to talk to her anytime soon.
Up was waiting for her outside the medibay doors.
"Wanna walk?" he asked.
"No. What happened to him?" Taz tried to keep the accusatory tone out of her voice, but it crept in and she knew it was unfair to put that on Up.
Up's jaw tightened but his voice was neutral, "I wasn't with him. Th' squad Krayonder was in got ambushed by robots... or something that showed up as robots on our scanners. There were too many hostiles so I ordered them to retreat. Krayonder was the last one to get outta th' area... but he didn't even get grazed by zapper fire!" Up's frustration with the boy leaked into his voice. He glared at Taz who was failing spectacularly at hiding her feelings. As if it was his fault! Up resented the accusatory stare. "So now y' know as much as I do."
Taz grimaced, "Part of the job."
Up reluctantly nodded, "I got them out as soon as I could." Immediately Up regretted saying something so defensive. But Taz seemed to accept the answer, "Duh, jou're not stupid."
Up cleared his throat, "Uh... okay."
Taz sighed and tugged at her bangs, "My shift starts in ten, I'll see jou at dinner?"
"I'll see y' then."
For the next two weeks Taz watched Krayonder like a hawk. But he didn't do anything outrageously stupid though he barely spoke at all. He broke this unnerving silence two days before they were to make landfall at an old abandoned robot planet for their next mission.
"Taz, I don't want you to ever ask me what I saw."
Taz lowered the book she'd been reading, Krayonder's hands were almost steady.
Taz sat and frowned at him, " Jou sure?"
"No, because I'm don't even know if what I saw wasn't some weirdo robot drug booby trap," he picked at the seams of the comforter on Taz's bed. I just- Our next mission's in two days and I'm ready to go." He gave her a pitiful look.
Taz laid back down, "Jou know that it's not me who assigns rangers to missions."
I know," said Krayonder, his voice was harsh, "But... please talk to Up. Tell him I'm ready. He doesn't want to listen to me. You know he doesn't like me."
Taz rubbed her knuckles across her lips, "I'll talk to Up... I'm hungry. Jou wanna get some food?"
Krayonder's smile trembled. "Sure. Also, can you throw our next sparring match? Y' know? For the poor boy who had a mental breakdown and all?"
Taz sneered at him, "Jou fucking wish, pendejo."
Taz leaned on the door frame, still mulling over what she wanted to say.
"The boy?" drawled Up.
Taz slunk into the office and into a chair. "He wants to go on the next mission. He wants to prove he's fine."
"Is he?" asked Up.
Taz bit her tongue, "He's better than when he came back with jou."
Up curled a lip at her. "Fit enough for combat?"
Taz pursed her lips, "He's fit for this next recon mission. We need all the rangers possible. And I know jou don't think so, but he is a good ranger."
"He's currently unstable. If he snaps while on the field it could mean lives." Up grimaced, " I never said he wasn't a good ranger."
"Jou never had to," said Taz quietly. "But I think he's ready to do this, at least."
Up scratched at his bad eye, mulling the decision over.
"Taz, th' way you're going you're gonna be a lieutenant in a few years."
Taz cocked her head, a smile pulled at her lips, "Really?"
Up held out his hand, "What I'm saying is, are y' really ready for this kinda responsibility right now? You're willing to put Krayonder on the field, knowing his state? You really want to have a say in that decision?"
"It's not like he's going to be killed. It's supposed to be a recon mission."
Up grimaced and said, "Which is why they're sending us in.?" His smile was frigid and predatory. "So. You still want to send him in?"
Taz glanced at Up's hard face for only a moment. "I'll keep him in line."
"Y' have yerself to worry about."
"I can do both because Krayonder's fine!" snarled Taz.
Up swore, "Zombie Christ, Taz! You're playing dice with Krayonder's life. But y' know what?! You want to put that boy in danger? Fine. He'll be your responsibility and his blood's on our hands."
Up was pleased to see Taz's face waver, but to his surprise she said, "Don't worry, Commander. If he dies the blame's all mine." She slammed the door closed behind her.
"Goddamn," Up leaned back in his chair and laughed to himself.
Taz crouched and helped the Comm set up shop by the computers. Lieutenant Linu stood outside the door with the rest of the squad. She was on the radio with Up, coordinating their two teams.
"Plug those wire in Vasquez, and then stand back. Who knows if this whole thing could blow in our faces. Splat." The Comm giggled.
"Uh huh. I'm just- be standing outside." Taz stepped out of the room with a look of distaste. Linu lifted her faceplate, "Comm set up?"
"Yes, ma'am. Why'd we get saddled con un goddamned loon?" Taz motioned to the giggling comm crouched under a robot computer bank. Linu shrugged, disinterested, "Who cares. Go check on your charity case."
Taz ground her teeth but did as told.
Krayonder was crouched next to the medic. The medic finished stabilizing Krayonder's popped shoulder; she was young for a medic and Taz could see she was scared. Real scared. Taz was furious at being saddled with an unhinged Comm and rookie medic. She lowered her visor for privacy and opened a link with the Commander.
"Up! You asshole! Why'd we get the rookie medic? Krayonder's dying and the idiot-"
"Got a bee up your ass, Vasquez," sneered Linu. Taz almost bit her mouth guard in half, "Get off the line, pendeja."
"Get that stick outta your ass and-"
Up's voice cut her off, "For Gawd's sake, Vasquez get off the line." Taz shut down the line and took some calming breaths before opening a line with the Comm, "Anything Dasa?"
The Comm whined into her earpiece," I got nothing. I'd say this's a bust. Triply-damned rivets!"
Taz went to Linu, "Comms says it's a bust."
Linu nodded and lowered her visor again, "Pack it in. We're going to rendez with the Commander."
She helped Krayonder to his feet. "Alright?"
Krayonder nodded but his lips were bloodless and his eyes scraped back and forth, as if trying to find something hiding in plain sight. The medic quickly packed in her stuff and Taz grinned at the medic. "Jou should loosen up. We could still die."
Krayonder sputtered and the medic gave Taz a nervous smile. "Sorry for being so useless. This is my first-"
"We know," said Krayonder, "It's not hard to tell." Some color came back into his cheeks, "Don't worry, everyone messes their pants on their first mission."
Taz grinned, "MmmNnnooo... I'm pretty sure jou're the only one to ever piss their pants."
Krayonder helped the medic to her feet, "Okay well I'm pretty sure you puked on your first mission, a lot."
The medic was looking at them back and forth. Taz waved them on ahead and they fell in with the group as they walked through the robot base. " Jou'd puke too if jou almost drowned in robot oil!"
Krayonder got a faraway look in his eyes, "Aaah yeah. I remember." The medic chuckled quietly.
Suddenly everyone's helmets automatically switched to combat mode and Taz saw the robots blip onto their radar.
Krayonder took in a shuddering breath, Taz gripped his upper arm and said sharply, "Jou're fine, right." It wasn't a question. Krayonder nodded and took a steadying breath.
Linu's voice hissed into her earpiece, "Vasquez, fall in."
Taz pushed Krayonder towards the middle of the group.
"Alright, everybody," Linu's voice buzzed into all their helmets, "We're going to rejoin the main group in ten minutes. Treat hostiles with extreme prejudice.
They almost made it to the rendezvous point. A wall exploded behind them and with it fifty robots wielding automatic cannons. Taz flattened herself against the wall, barely felt the sting of being shot in the leg. "Organized retreat!" barked Linu, "We're almost there. Hold ranks you dogs!"
Linu lead them in a zig-zagging path through the robot base, always almost in reach of the robots. Their group reached a room with half a dozen gaping pits that lead Dead God knew where and the other half of the squad was cornered there by a score of rusted robots wielding much less rusty weaponry. Linu sprinted past the front line and body slammed a robot. "Go help, Vasquez!" Taz leapt clear of some tin cans before landing in the middle of throng, she shot indiscriminately.
She momentarily saw Up, the side of his helmet was cracked and he grinned at her, "Nothin' shot off?"
"Not yet," she yelled before losing sight of him again.
Something hard hit her low in the back and Taz saw the world upside down as she flew through the air and rolled out over the edge of the pit, with a scream on her lips, Taz managed to grab a hold of one of a strip of metal that had broken away from the lip of the pit. She dropped her zapper and clung to the broken metal with both hands, the shard bit through her gloves. There was another explosion and she saw Up slide towards her, Taz swung and caught Up by his shirt front, his dog tags twisted in her hand and into the back of his neck, cutting an angry red line.
"Urk," Up struggled and grabbed hold of Taz's arm. "Nice catch!" he laughed, "Yer choking me though."
They hung for a few moments, clinging to the lip of the pit in the midst of bedlam. Taz glanced at the battle above, no one seemed to notice them. The broken metal had cut through her glove, there was blood running down her arm and staining her uniform. The thing metal shard was warping under their combined weight. She could feel the numb paradoxical coolness of a burn on her face. She looked at Up, "Hold on, I'm going to swing us-"
"Taz…"
"Callate, give me a minute." Up looked down at churning refuse below as several rangers fell in, screaming. "Come on, Tazzie," he coaxed, his eyes were bright with blood lust, "It's not gonna hold us both." Taz tightened her grip on him, "Olvidalo. No." She desperately tried to get a grip on the wall.
Up shook his head angrily, "That's an order! Release me!"
Taz couldn't feel her hand anymore and the blood was dripping to her elbow lazily. They would fall any second.
"I'm not fucking around, Vasquez! Release me this instant or-"
Taz snarled, "Or what?"
"Or I'll have your fucking head!" screamed Up.
Taz kneed him in the mouth and Up felt his lip split in two. Up wriggled around in her grip and tried breaking her grip. This is ridiculous, thought Up angrily, there's a battle going on and we're here killing each other. The metal strip groaned loudly and Up pulled out his pistol, pointing it squarely at Taz. She paled under the sight of the muzzle but still kept a tight grip on his shirt-front. Her hands twisted into the black fabric along with his dog tag chain. The silver metal bit cruelly into the back of his neck. "Now," spat Up, blood dribbling down his mouth.
She looked scared and suddenly a lot younger than he remembered. "Please," she whispered just as another ranger fell in, her last screams echoing horribly. He pushed forward the safety, staring her down. "Que el diablo te lleve a la chingada!" she snarled and Up yanked his head back, ripping his shirt and chain.
"FUCK!" Taz easily swung herself to the lip. She found an abandoned zapper and slogged into the mess as an explosion rocked the building, fresh air swamped into the room and Taz saw their ship hovering right outside the impromptu escape. Linu waving everyone out through the hole. Taz followed and opened a link with Linu, "Rangers fell into the pit. Do you know where it open out at?"
Linu cursed, "Fucking A' I do, Vasquez. You get everyone aboard."
"Ma'am," agreed Taz and turned her attention to covering the rangers in her squad, she cradled the zapper with one hand.
Linu and Taz made it to the ship with the robots on their heels.
"You four!" She pointed at Taz and some others, "Stay here. we've still got rangers on the ground. Keep the area clear!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Linu sprinted for the bridge. Taz and six others hung from the open hangar door. Their ship suddenly shuddered and swung wildly around as they sped towards one of the stinking polluted lakes that were common to the planet. "Look!" screamed a Ranger.
There were maybe ten rangers and various robots slogging through the mire or wrestling and trying to drown the other.
Linu appeared, looking breathless. "Get them on board, you bootnecks!" she bawled.
Their ship hovered a meter off the sucking mire and their rangers tumbled on board, badly burned, injured and one which had to be bodily tossed onto the ship.
The doors squealed angrily as they started to close. Taz slumped back and for a moment caught site of Up, singed but alive. Taz rolled to her stomach and kneeled, taking in a calming breath, she could yell at him later. She left without speaking to anyone.
They were due to dock with the main starship within hours when she went to see Up in the medibay. Up sullenly glared at his hands while Taz watched the medics finish wrapping Up's chest and arms. Up refused to be cowed by her and snarled, "How's Krayonder?" Her mouth was an angry slash across her face.
Does she look pale? Up couldn't tell through the haze of pain medication. I need to stop getting hurt, he thought sourly, one day I'll actually end up dead instead of just almost dead, then what would she do? He continued to stare at her sullenly, probably kick the shit outta me.
She approached the bed and cruelly slapped his dog tags onto his chest, "Asshole." and walked out while Up groaned in pain and clutched the dog tags.
Two days later they landed on Caprica and that same weekend Mint decided to celebrate his birthday at one of Caprica's wild night clubs. So one night Taz and Krayonder took a cab to a night club where Root was waiting for them outside, "Come on you two! Mint's already roaring drunk."
There was something Taz loved about smoky dark clubs like this one with music so loud that she could feel the bass in her sternum. Krayonder easily joined the crowd that surrounded Mint. Taz wriggle through the crowd of friends and a few admirers at a table already messy with ribbon and spilled alcohol. Taz placed the small box into Mint's hands and started to walk away. "Hey! Where's my birthday kiss?" He stood and puckered his lips at her.
Taz snorted, "A birthday slug would be more appropiado."
"Did you say birthday shag? I accept!" Mint beamed, his face was rosy.
Taz played along, "Maybe some other time." A chorus of shrieks arose and Taz ducked out of the circle. "C'mon," said Taz to Root, grabbing his hand, "Before Mint thinks I'm serious." Root laughed and pulled her to the dance floor. Taz had to admire Root's graceful dance moves that matched her own so well. She laughed as Root spun her into his chest.
"Oops," Taz gripped his arm and leaned into him, trying not to laugh. "I think you need 'nother shot," slurred Root cheerfully, "You're not nearly drunk enough to smile like that!" Taz shook her head, "I creo que I've had quite suficientedetomar." Root dragged her to a booth and sat her down. The alcohol was doing a good job of helping her forget the mission. After every shot, the image of Up falling to certain death became blurrier and blurrier. Taz rubbed her neck and at that moment Root came back, He offered her one of two glasses filled with vodka and sprite. Taz sniffed it and gulped it down. The couch was comfortable and so was Root. She curled against his familiar lean frame. "You alright, Taz," murmured Root into her ear.
"The last mission was tough."
"How many casualties?" Root asked even though he knew it was morbid to wonder.
"None, thank God," Taz finished her drink, "I don't want to talk about it."
Root curled a knuckle under her chin, "Are you going to be okay? You know you can talk to me." Taz forced herself to laugh and said, "Just keep the alcohol coming."
Root sighed and wrapped his arms around her, "Must be hard watching all that."
Taz nodded, "It's worse when jour own hands get bloody."
Root frowned at her, "When the rangers get their hands dirty?"
She nodded, "That's what I meant. What did I say?"
"Ah, who cares," said Root blithely.
Root was trying to balance two space-cola's in one hand as he made his way over to their table. He stopped about a meter away, there was a man there, leaning heavily on the table, a leering grin on his face. Taz looked aggravated, her fist was clenched under the table. Root rushed over and slammed the sodas down, splashing himself and the leering man too.
"What the-?" he yelled, scrambling backwards and trying to wipe his shirt off. Root tossed him some napkins, "Here. You've got egg on your face." Taz slid out of her chair.
"Hey, sweets. You gonna tell this GLEE schmuck to back off or will I have to do it?" The man circled around Root. Taz took a giant gulp of the soda and grabbed Root's arm, "I want to dance." A few people were gathering around. She pulled him away, "Let's go," she hissed.
"Aww... is your girlfriend worried about ya'?" Root turned towards Taz, he searched her face, she does look worried. "Don't worry, Taz. I can handle this." She scoffed, "I don't need jou to handle anything! I don't want jou to ruin Mint's party! Let it go." She placed her weight on him and pulled, Root pulled back.
"What a twat," sneered the man. Root ripped his hand out of Taz's grip and spun around. With a triumphant roar, the man caught Root in the stomach, slamming his hand into Root's jaw. Taz couldn't watch this. She leapt forward, caught the man under the throat, spun him around and punched his abdomen as he was going down. The crowd quickly dispersed.
She went to pick Root off the ground but he scuttled away.
She paused, "Root?"
He scrambled to his feet and shoved his way through the crowd. A wave of muttering swelled around her, blushing angrily, Taz ran after Root.
She caught him a block out of the club and slammed him into the wall, "What the fuck?"
"Let go of me!" He scrabbled at her hands, looking scared.
"What's wrong with jou? I save jour ass and jou run away?"
He shook his head in disbelief and shoved her off, "Me? What the hell was that?!" he waved in the direction of the club, "You-What was that?!" He repeated.
"Dat was me saving jour butt." Taz grinned.
"You embarrassed me!" Root slicked his hair back again and straightened his coat, "Getting saved by a girl. Dead Gawd!" The smile dripped off Taz like mud.
"What DO JOU THINK I DO FOR A LIVING?"
Root started walking off, Taz trotted after him, "Hey! I'm talking to jou, jou dick!" Her accent thickened with her temper.
Root tucked his hands in his pockets, "I thought-" he stopped, "I know you're title is Ranger but I thought…" he ground his teeth and turned away from Taz, "I thought you were Up's little pet or something, just trailing along in the ships. I thought...since you're a girl and smoking hot-I thought that Up had you because-" Taz's face made Root stop cold.
