Does anyone even remember this story?! :) I hope you do and I hope you enjoy this chapter! I'm sorry I abandoned you guys, I was having...serious writer's block I guess. I really hope you like this chapter and I hope you tell me what you think!

"Mierda!" She fell onto the rough, rocky ground, sufficiently scraping her entire forearm. She could feel the blood trickle from the wound, but she had to keep moving. She jumped to her feet in one swift movement and was off running again. She didn't even have time to wonder where her enemy was before she was grabbed from behind by two metal claws and dragged roughly behind her assailant. She had no clue where she was being taken; she could only attempt to escape. She tried holding onto trees and plants, but the robots merely pulled her until she was forced to let go. By the time the robots had apparently reached their destination, the girl's legs were sore and her hands were rubbed raw. When the robots released her, she tried to run away, only to be met with a hard blow to the head. The girl shook it off and got to her feet, determined to fight her way out. Just as she had found solid ground, however, a metal claw made contact with her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. On and on the attack went. The poor girl tried to escape many times, only to be met with a blow from a robot. Finally she gave up and just laid on the hot, Mexican soil as the robots took turns beating her mercilessly.

She screamed out her fury

and her pain

and her loss

and her agony.

She screamed until her voice gave out and there was nothing left to scream. She opened her eyes, only to see a huge metal claw rise above her, and closed them tightly, not wanting to see the hit that would be her death.

"Taz! Taz!" Taz opened her eyes and immediately began to claw the arm that was grabbing her shoulder. The arm pulled away and Taz thrashed around as two hands grabbed the side of her face. Her confused eyes locked with a pair of cool blue eyes that took her breath away. She gave up her fight and the Stranger began rubbing her back soothingly.

"Are you okay, Taz?" Taz nodded, looking at the floor in shame. She couldn't believe how weak she was being! She was behaving like a little bebé. Her cheeks flushed and she pushed the Stranger away.

"I'm sorry I woke jou, it won't happen again" she was answered with a chuckle and she raised her head to look at her companion. "Who are jou, anyway?" His face fell.

"Remember Taz? My name's Up…" she shook her head and he sighed. "I'm here to help you regain your memory and to help you get over your…episode…"

She remembered that…

The blaster, cool in her hand

The sound of blaster-fire

Then….nothing

Only pain.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to ask the man called Up what exactly happened, her door opened. Krayonder rushed in and started blabbering away in his annoying, excitable voice.

"Taz, are you alright man? I heard shouting from your room so I came as soon as I could!" Taz got up and pushed him away from her.

"I'm fine, Krayon-der! Do jou think just because I had a minuscule lapse I need jou to come to my rescue?" Up stood up and put his hand on Taz's shoulder.

"Sorry Krayonder, she's a little upset. But everything's fine here, you can go back to your bunk…" Taz cut over him.

"Yeah, so leave!" Krayonder nodded and ran out of the room faster than he rushed in. Taz turned to look at the man with a smirk. "We told him, didn't we…"

"Up. And yes, Taz, we did!" Up smiled at the girl's change of mood, but it faltered slightly. Up turned his head, hoping Taz wouldn't notice his sudden sadness. Of course, she did.

She put her hand on his chin and gently forced him to look at her.

"What's da matter, Up?" He shrugged, not wanting to ruin her good mood. He prayed that she would drop the matter. Of course, she didn't.

"Tell me what's wrong or I'll stab jou…" she meant it as a joke, but it sounded harsh to Up and his eyes flashed with fear. "Too soon?"

Up nodded and sat down on the bed with a sigh. Taz mimicked him and he looked over at her and smiled. He ruffled her hair fondly and she yelled in outrage. In a swift movement, Taz had Up pinned on the bed. She smiled in a way that clearly said "I won".

"Please tell me, Up? I'll drop it if jou just tell me what's da matter" after a few passing second, Up nodded. He gently picked Taz up and sat her down next to him on the bed.

"It's just….well I think it's weird that you remember who Krayonder is, but you don't remember…" His voice trailed off.

"Jou." He nodded. "It's not like I want to forget jou, Up! It isn't my fault!" Taz's voice rose hysterically and Up quickly put a hand up to stop her before she worked herself up.

"Of course I know it isn't your fault, Taz! It's just…"

"Frustrating?" he nodded again. Taz looked down at her lap, sadly. She wanted to remember all the fun times Up said they had together. Right now, she wasn't even sure what her relationship with him was. She knew that he was her Commander and she his Lieutenant. She also knew that they had worked together for years and were apparently best friends…but that's where her knowledge stopped. Taz had a thought and looked up quickly.

"Tomorrow, when I talk to da doctor, I'll ask him why I can't remember anything about jou, okay? Maybe he knows why!" Up looked over at her and smiled.

"Yeah, maybe Taz…" Taz yawned and lay back down on the bed. Up settled in next to her, careful not to touch her so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. He needn't have worried. As soon as he lay down next to her, she curled into him, matching his body perfectly. With her head on his chest, it was in the exact correct placement for him to lay his head down on the top of hers, completing the puzzle. Taz yawned again, moving Up's head slightly as she did.

"Will jou keep my nightmares away, Up?" Her voice was so small and sad, it took all the strength he had to not ruin their perfect positioning and embrace her. He whispered to her,

"Yeah Taz, I will. I won't let anything ever hurt you ever again." He wasn't sure if she heard him or not, she was sound asleep with her body draped over his like she was the one comforting him.

And perhaps she was.