This chapter is dedicated to Ralph. Beloved actor, boyfriend and ice cube. Never has there been a greater love than that of this ice cube for his shoe.
Taz waited impatiently, shifting from foot to foot as the drop pod made its way down to the robot base. Taz knew what she had to go; get in there shoot some robots and get out. She glanced over at the young ensign next to her who she was paired with. He glanced nervously at the zapper in his hands as though it might explode any second. The drop pod shuddered to a halt as it reached the planet surface. Taz smiled as the doors opened. It was show time.
Commander Up looked around his drop pod. The majority of his team we gossiping on in the case of Esme and her friends turning towards up every few minutes and giggling. Up was beginning to get very sick of them. It appeared that the G.L.E.E was letting anyone become a ranger now.
Three rangers sat in the corner, ensigns Michael, Stella and Ralph. Up looked at them. They were just kids. They couldn't be older than nineteen. Up looked over at them, huddled in the corner. Up could see the fear in their eyes, the anticipation of what was to come, but they had no idea. You can't predict what will happen in war. Michael had his arm around Stella in a protective sort of way, as if that gesture alone could keep her safe. He could see the love they shared; this made him think of Taz. He wished that he were with her so that he could keep her safe. He hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid out there. He chucked as he realised how ridiculous that thought was. He just hoped that she would do anything stupid that would end in her getting killed.
Up looked over to the wall of the drop where a large timer sat. It revealed that there was less than two minutes until they reached their destination. He stood up and cleared his throat, ready to make a speech to scare and inspire them.
"Alright boys and girls," he began as the rangers all looked up at him "You've all got your reasons for being here today and fighting. Some reasons," he said turning to look at Michael who still had his arm around Stella "more important than others," he continued turning to glare disapprovingly at Esme. "Now you've got to go out there and fight for your reason. Go out there and fight, fight to keep your reason safe, fight so your reason will be proud and when you think you can't fight any more then you think of your reason, think of her and how she always looked perfect whether she is working out in the gym or covered in tiny bits of robots out on the battlefield or how she looks curled up watching the Karate Kid and the way she smiles when she thinks no one's looking and how you would do anything to keep her safe and you go out there are fight so that when this dead god damn war is over you can finally tell her that you l" Up paused realising what he had said and what he was about to say, " And if you don't get out there and die for something then I will kill you for nothing !" He yelled, trying to regain his composure. He was saved from his embarrassment as the drop pod landed on the planet.
"No get out there and fight!" he finished.
Taz ran out of the drop pod dragging a young ranger named Timmy who she was partnered with behind her.
"Come on," she called impatiently "let's go shoot some toasters!"
Taz ran headfirst into the battle shouting in Spanish, followed by a reluctant and much more cautious Timmy. Within seconds Taz had taken down two robots and was moving onto her third. Timmy glanced nervously at his zapper hoping that if he stayed close behind Taz he wouldn't have to use it.
Soon, largely thanks to Taz all that remained of the robots was a smouldering pile of metal on the ground. The remaining rangers sat down by a nearby wall and began tending to their injuries. Taz however did not join them. There was something that was not quite right. She walked around the side of the building that the robots had been using to create more of their evil kind. Timmy ran after her like a lost puppy dog. Taz heard a crunch behind her and spun around.
"We shouldn't be here," called Timmy nervously "let's just go back, Taz look out!" Taz jumped to the side, narrowly missing getting his by the laser beam from Timmy's zapper. She turned to see three robots advancing towards them. She immediately began shooting. With the help of Timmy they too soon lay smouldering on the ground with the rest of their kind. Taz heard a rumble coming from the building. Upon looking through one of the windows she saw hundreds of robots all marching in formation, heading towards to door. Taz mumbled something about the easy way and destroying them all as she reached around in her pocket. Timmy still in a state of shock stared at her. She found what she was looking for and looked back at the building.
"Jou know Timmy, when you're not whimpering jou can actually be a tough son of a bitch," she said advancing towards an open window, "Now start running."
"What?" Timmy started to say but was cut off as Taz pulled the pin on the grenade and threw it through the open window and sprinting away. Once again Timmy ran after her, hoping they would get away in time.
Up waited impatiently as he downloaded the files from the robot's computer. Now the G.L.E.E. would have the information they needed to beat the robots. They would have information on tactics, robot designs and their future plans. The download ended and Up got ready to leave the room. Now he just had to get his team, get out and blow the place to smithereens. Before he left he placed a small bomb on the desk. Small but powerful, a bit like Taz he thought as he began pressing buttons. He shook his head; he couldn't think about Taz, he needed to concentrate. He set the timer for ten minutes. That was all the time he would need.
Up ran through the hallways, shouting to his team through the radio, telling them that they had to get out now. Up stopped running as he heard sobbing. He saw Stella hunched over a body. Michael holding her hand bravely as tears slipped down his face. Up walked over to them and saw that the body was Ralph's. He saw the anguished looks on their faces. They were beginning to learn the reality of war. More rangers arrived as they made their way out of the building. They stopped as they saw Ralph's body. Up cleared his throat as he checked his watch. Four minutes to get out of there. There was still some time. It wouldn't be right to leave Ralph's body here without saying something.
"Ralph was a good ranger," he began "Never was there a greater love than that of this ranger for his team. Ralph," Up was cut off by the sound of metallic chanting. He turned and saw hundreds of robots surrounding them from all directions. His watched beeped alerting him that there was only three minutes to get out.
Taz smiled as she sat on her bed back on the starship. She had gotten a lecture from the idiota commander about unnecessarily endangering human life and how grenades were not to be used whenever she felt like it. She had gotten the job done though. It was worth it. Up would have been proud of her. Up! Taz remembered how she had promised to video call Up once her mission was done. She couldn't wait to hear about all the robots that Up had killed. She stood up and made her way over to the communications room.
Taz walked into the communications room, cheerful for the first time in days.
"Hola Specs," she called "Can jou setup a call with Up for me?"
"Taz," replied Specs in a worried tone "I can't get in contact with Up's ship and all the other ships that I have called have said the same thing. Up might have"
"Don't say it," spat Taz "Up is there, jou are just doing it wrong. Try again" Specs pressed a series of buttons. The message 'call failed' flashed again. "Keep trying," begged Taz. There was a desperate look in her eyes.
An hour and several unsuccessful attempts later a message from base reached the Starship.
"All available units are to immediately report to Planet A34. Starship S491 needs immediate assistance. I repeat immediate assistance required."
Taz gasped, refusing to believe what she had just heard. Up flew into a rage. She had to get to up this instant. He had to still be alive, he just had to. She didn't know what she would do if he wasn't.