Chapter Eight
Taz paced around the hospital room. She still didn't know what to decide. How could she turn Up into a robot? How could she end his life? There was no easy answer. She thought back to when Up saved her at her Quinceañera. She remembered how the robots had killed her family. The robots had always tried to take everything from her. Her family, her home, Up. She wouldn't let them take Up from her. She knew what she had to do.
Taz glanced up as Dr. Space Claw entered her hospital room. He sat down across from her.
"Jou have my permission to do the operation." said Taz "Save him."
"Excellent," replied Space Claw, glad that his plan was working out. "Now there is just the small matter of what you have to do for me. There is a small team of rangers leaving for a mission in a few days and they need a leader. This mission is very secret. You will be leading it as soon as you are released from hospital."
"But I can't leave Up," exclaimed Taz.
"No buts," interrupted Space Claw. "If you want to save Up you will do this."
Taz paced along the hallway of the hospital outside Up's room. She had been released from hospital earlier that day and Up's operation would be over any minute. She ceased pacing as the door to Up's room opened and a nurse walked out. Taz rushed over the nurse.
"Did it work? Is he alive? Can I see him?" shouted Taz.
"Calm down," replied the nurse "The operation went as well as could be expected. He is currently unconscious we are still not sure if he will wake. You can see him now if you wish."
Taz opened Up's door and peeked in, unsure of what awaited her. She saw Up lying peacefully on the bed. Tiny stiches ran down his body where Up's left side met him robotic half. She closed the door and walked over to where Up lay. She reached her hand out and paused, unsure whether to touch him or not. He looked so helpless. It scared Taz to see him like this. Up had always been there for her. He was the toughest person she knew. That was what scared her so much. If this could happen to Up then maybe being tough wouldn't save her. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She fought them back. She wouldn't let them fall. She gently traced the line down Up's naked chest where the fake skin met his real skin. The left side felt warm and soft while the right side felt harsh and cold. She swallowed as the lump in her throat grew.
"Why did this have to happen to jou Up?" said Taz. Ger voice sounded loud and strange in the near silent room. The only other sound she could hear was the beeping of the machines telling her that there was some hope left. "Jou have to wake up Up. Get back Up. I need Jou. I didn't even have a chance to tell jou..." Taz was cut off by a message over the loud speaker.
"Would Lieutenant Taz please report to Dr. Space Claw's office immediately." Taz sighed. This would be about the estupido mission she had to go on. The one that would take her away from Up. If Up didn't wake Up before she left she might never see him again.
"Te amo Up," she whispered as she leant down and gently pressed her lips to his.
Taz sat in Dr Space Claw's office wishing that this mission was over already. Space Claw was explaining how she had to go and collect robots for him. Due to the secret nature of this mission there would only be Taz and a few other rangers. Taz would be the commander for this mission. It would take several months, but this wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that Taz was under strict instructions not to kill or permanently damage any of the robots.
"Now you will leave in half an hour." Finished Space Claw, bringing Taz out of her reverie where she was thinking of ways that she could hurt the robots without Space Claw finding out.
Taz left Space Claws office and went back to her room. She quickly threw everything that she needed into a bag. She checked her watch. She had twenty minutes until she had to leave. Just enough time to visit Up and say goodbye. She frantically ran through the halls yelling in Spanish at the rangers who were in her way. Every second lost here was another second she couldn't spend with Up. She finally arrived at the hospital. After earning a glare from the nurse at the front desk Taz slowed to a walk and made her way to Up's room.
Taz stopped at Up's dor. She could hear voices coming from inside his room. She peeked through the small window that was on the door. She saw a nurse talking to Up. Up was sitting Up in his bed, he looked exhausted. Taz saw the nurse explain to Up that he was now half robot. She saw the tears begin to fall from his face upon hearing this news. She couldn't watch this anymore. She couldn't see him like this. So Taz did something she would regret for the rest of her life. She ran. She ran out of there so fast that she didn't see Up asking the nurse for Taz. She didn't see the nurse telling Up that Taz was gone and she didn't see the way that Up's body shook as he broke down and fell to pieces. She didn't see the way he cried for her. She didn't see the way sobs racked his body and he fell apart calling for her. She didn't see because she wasn't there.