Authors note: well it's been an entire THREE MONTHS since I updated this story. I had hit an utter roadblock, and life wasn't helping. But school's now over, and so much pressure is off my shoulders. I was able to sit down and type out the last bit of this chapter... it had been bugging me for literally WEEKS and I refused to post it. So sorry for being mean and not updating. It's pretty obvious by now that i'm not the most organized and up to date as an author. XD Also, I have not edited this particular chapter as much as my other ones. I just want to get this chapter out and move on with the adventure.

Disclaimer: Taz, Up, and the G.L.E.E. are not mine. Sorry. Wish they were.

Chapter 9:

After another helping of cheesy goodness, Up escorted Taz back to the infirmary. Kent walked with them for a bit, catching Taz up on how the rest of her boys were doing. Apparently Drew had a nasty gash on his leg that was infected, but the others were doing great. Along the way Kent left them to go to his quarters. The next few minutes consisted of light chatter between Taz and Up. Had any one noticed their absence? How often did they serve nachos? What did up think of the albatross lady? Eventually Up pushed the medical bay doors open and looked around. There was a nurse over there in the corner, talking to a female ranger lying in bed. Luckily it wasn't Albatross.

"Come on, I don't think anyone's noticed our absence." Up grabbed Taz's hand and practically dragged her back to her little makeshift curtain room.

"That's good. I wouldn't have been able to eat nachos otherwise- Oh." Taz's sentence was cut short by the sight of Dr. James sitting on a chair in the corner and a man she hadn't met before sitting on her bed. Whoops. they were caught. She acted quickly and put on a friendly grin. "Hola amigos. Glad to see that I have some visitors. What can I do for you?"

"Not leaving without permission would be a good start." Dr. James started from his seat. Aw, he had been worried. Serves him right for the needle. Taz waved that away.

"Oh, I was hungry. So I forced Up to take me to the mess hall to get a quick snack. No worries. I've only been gone for about twenty minutes."

The new man turned to Up. "Is this true, Lieutenant?" Up stood straight and looked the higher ranking man in the eye.

"Partially Admiral." He paused. "But it wasn't a snack. She eats more in a minute than a grown man can stomach for a full blown meal!" The Admiral grinned slightly, and Taz gave an internal sigh of relief. She wasn't in trouble. And hopefully Up wasn't either.

"If she was that hungry, I believe we can look over this one infraction. Wouldn't you say, Dr. James?" The Jamaican nodded slowly and then got the his feet.

"Taz, Admiral Gregor would like to speak to you and Lieutenant Up alone. I'll leave you three be." The Doctor nodded, and then disappeared through the curtains. Taz looked to Up, to see if he had any inkling on what was going on. He gave her a weary yet reassuring smile.

"Taz, this here's the head of the G.L.E.E. academy, Admiral Gregor. Admiral, this is Taz; but you know that already." He did?

Taz stuck out her hand to shake, and it was engulfed in the grown man's own hand. "Hola Senor Admiral Gregor." He reminded her of her own papa, she decided absentmindedly. He had his eyes, with the little wrinkles in the corners.

"Hola," He said with a bad accent, "Do you mind if we walk a-ways to my office? We have some matters to discuss that your friends," he glanced at Up, "have brought up." Taz shrugged.

"Sure, if you want."

The trio walked out of the medical bay and to the same elevators Taz and Up had been in previously. They then rode upwards to the top floor of the academy. The Guatemalan girl tried to figure out what this was all about. Was there some top secret mission that only a girl of 15 could do? Had they found a member of her familia alive? Was there news of Papa and Carlos? she tried to chase away the nervous feeling that had started to devour her stomach.

Admiral Gregor pressed his hand against a scanner on his office door, and also did a retinal eye scan. The other two waited patiently for the door to open. After a few seconds it slid open silently and the Admiral held out a hand, motioning for the two to enter in ahead of him. Taz stepped forward, dragging Up behind her. The office was large, with a full panoramic window gazing out into space. Her breath hitched at the beautiful sight. Her eyes widened and she stepped forward to the window, until her nose was almost touching the glass. "Mui bonito." She breathed, fogging up the glass. This was the first time she had ever seen space. It was so beautiful. Her fingers came up and lightly brushed the clear surface.

"Yea, it's a pretty sight." Up said aloud, with a chuckle. Admiral Gregor crossed over to his messy desk, moved a binder off of his leather chair, and sat down. She was jolted back into reality and turned to the two men waiting for her. Admiral gestured for her to take a seat next to Up on the other side of his desk. Taz limped over and plopped down.

"So Mr. Admiral, why did I have to come up here?"

He leaned over his desk. "It's normally not in the G.L.E.E.'s interests to bring survivors back to base."

Taz opened her mouth to object, but the man continued on." But, as I've come to understand, this was really your only option." Taz couldn't see, but as she nodded, Up had as well. He was not willing to leave this feisty girl alone down there to fend for herself. That would've been crazy and heartless. Never mind the fact that the other Ensigns would've killed him if he had done so. She was their friend... and now, he supposed, his.

"Am I correct to believe that all your available family members are now deceased, and that your father and brother are currently enlisted as rangers?"

"Si. All of my familia were at my quincenera. And Papa and Carlos, I haven't heard from in years."

"So you have no one to go to back on Earth."

"Yes."

The Admiral nodded slowly, as if weighing his options."I have heard of your fighting skills and exploits against the robots from the ensigns who've rescued you. Lieutenant Up also speaks highly of you, ms. Taciana." Up grinned slightly, he knew she hated that name. "I am going to offer you lodging here at the base, and, if you are willing, education at the Starship-Ranger academy."

Taz could barely breathe. What a turn of events! Her? A Starship Ranger? She'd been waiting years to hear that! Images of her fighting with Papa and Carlos flitted through her head, as well as her kicking robot arse with her ensign amigos. That could actually happen now! She glanced over to Up, then to the Admiral. "Senior, I would be honored. I've always wanted to be a Starship Ranger." There was an invisible phrase that hung in he air between the three of them. Thank you.

Up was the first to speak. "Now Taz, there's a slight issue going into this..." Her eyes widened. Oh no. "You're only fifteen."

Admiral Gregor leaned back in his chair, it squeaking as he did so. "We can negotiate around this though." The girl stayed quiet, finally understanding the seriousness of the situation. " We can house you here until you have turned the proper age of sixteen to train. But this is on the conditions that you do your fair share of work as well as keep your education up to date. Now, I've assigned Lieutenant Up here to be your mentor. He's going to get you to eat,sleep,think, and act like a ranger even before your official training starts."

She looked sideways at the southern ranger next to her. He had the ghost of a grin on his face. Bien, Taz thought. He wasn't frustrated with this idea like she had feared. " Que? What do you mean?" she asked.

"You're going to shadow this man in all of his activities for just under a year. Including watching him during training exercises, and sitting in on the classes he has just been assigned to teach. You will leave him to help prepare meals for the G.L.E.E. members in the kitchens unless otherwise ordered. That clear?"

"Yes sir..." She bit her lip, and let out a small sigh. "But where am I going to stay? I just can't live in the medical bay for a year." The men laughed, and Up patted her on the shoulder.

"You are going to stay in joint quarters with Up, ensign Dancing-Tacos, and ensign Mary Tucker." Who? "We'll move you into your quarters as soon as you've satisfactorily healed up and then issue you some G.L.E.E. uniforms and such." Taz opened her mouth.

"Do I get to keep the stuff I brought in my duffel bag? It's... It's all I've got left of home."

Up nodded. "And those are probably the only clothes that'll fit you, remember?" She nodded, and then stood up.

"Is that all, Admiral?" she turned, careful not to bump her ankle on the chair leg. He stood as well as Up.

"Yes it is. Thank you for speaking with me. Taz, Up? You are dismissed."

As soon as the two were out the door, the latina turned and hugged her new mentor.

"I can't believe this is happening."

"I can," Up grinned and ran a hand through her messy hair, "and it is. Welcome to the Starship Rangers, kid."

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