The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 45

Taz jumped up, forgetting about her hair that lay carelessly on the floor, and chased after Up. The second she saw him, Taz jumped onto his back and whispered into his neck. 'Jou kept jour promise.'

'I always will, Taz. Until the day I die.'

Their mission was going well, until Cece tripped on a spasming robot arm and impaled herself on a metal pole. The whole day was full of destroying robot after robot and trying to find a crashed Starship, but after scouring the search area and more than doubling their record of kills, one little accident cost Up and Taz two more lives.

Cece had been so careful all day, but the tiredness got to her and she didn't see the arm snaking across the ground towards her. Lee had called out, and thrown her zapper to the ground. It knocked Alex over into a pile of rusted roof tin, scraping him all over.

'Cece! Come on honey don't leave me! I'm here...' Lee stroked her sister's head, trying to stop her from crying out in case there were more robots around the corner. She cradled her sister, but Cece tried to sit up.

'Shh... don't move. It's just gonna hurt you more.' Lee tried not to cry, but tears were starting to pour.

'I don't care. I can't live without you, Lee.' Cece whispered.

'I can't live without you either!' And with that, Lee dropped into a crying heap over her sister.

'You don't have to.'

Lee looked up, tears blurring her vision. 'Wh-what do you mean?'

There was a sharp pain in Lee's stomach, and as she looked down, a pool of red was cascading down her white shirt and through the camo one.

'CECE! LEE! LET'S GO!' Taz called from outside. 'HURRY UP! WE GOTTA GET ALEX BACK TO DE SHIP!'

Lee ignored Taz's cries, and instead grabbed her sister's shoulders. 'YOU BITCH! YOU STABBED ME!'

Cece had an evil smile on her face. 'You promised we'd die together.'

Taz's head poked around the corner, but before she could yell for them to hurry up, she saw Lee lying over her sister.

Taz hated herself for the words she was about to say. 'UP! WE'RE TWO DOWN! WE GOTTA GET ALEX BACK ALONE.'

They didn't have time to try and help Lee, and clearly it was their wish to die together. The word promise rang around Taz's head, but she shoved it away and helped Up carry Alex back to the drop-pod.

'Well dat was another mission down de damn TOILET! We are never gonna get another mission.' Taz face-planted into her pillow.

Up sat next to her, rubbing circles on her back. 'Taz, tell me how old ya are.'

'Jou should know dat.' She replied grumpily.

'I do, but I want you to say it.'

She tried to add up numbers in her head, but kept getting lost. 'I'm 21.'

'We have known each other for six years, and I don't think I'd be a very good boyfriend if I let you think this was your fault.'

Taz flipped over onto her back. 'Did jou say boyfriend.'

Up nodded nervously. 'I think I did. But forgetting about that... It ain't your fault, it ain't mine. These kids just don't know how to handle themselves. We lost a lot of good people on the front lines, and most of 'em didn't even know what they were fightin' for. Evans did- Stewie did. Cece and Lee did- heck, even Lucy did. They helped us, and we learnt from them.'

Taz had to agree with him, but that wasn't the only thought in her head. Dead God I'm 21.

The next year and a half was surprisingly full of missions- they had three several month-long journeys across the galaxy, and each time returned with a full crew. Alex was still recovering from the rust infections, but they knew he couldn't last much longer. It had introduced many other medical issues, and Taz was a little disappointed. He was the best tech they ever had, and was an alright guy most of the time.

Back on Earth, things were getting desperate for the robots to be finished once and for all. Taz had been relaxing in her and Up's room on the Starship that was now known as their own, when there was a loud knock.

She frowned and pulled herself away from the book in her hands, and opened the door. 'Up- if jou forgot de passcode I will put jou in a taco and-'

In front of Taz was the Fleet Admiral. She quickly saluted, but the Admiral smiled. 'Taz! Darling. No need for formalities. May I come in?'

Taz smiled and opened the door. The Admiral took a seat on the small couch, patting the seat next to her for Taz. 'Now, darling. I have a little request for you and Up- it's... important.'

'Sí? How can we help?' Taz frowned a little, hoping it was another mission. They were so close to winning the war, and that one mission might make the difference.

'We've tracked down the planet where they're holding their Phason deposits. We knock that out, the robots can't power their Gunderwing-0 units-'

'Sí. We'll do it.'

The Admiral leaned forward and put her hands on Taz's shoulders. 'It's on Cronos.'

Taz nodded. 'Who is de crew?'

'You'll be partnered with four other Starships, each with their own tasks to take down the deposits. 13-A1 and 13-A2, 15-A1 and 14-B2. The Commanders have requested to use their nicknames, and frankly we don't give a crap. Cinderella, Mario, Muffin and Skillet are the other leaders, and I swear they are good. I don't expect all of you back, but I know that you won't give up trying. You are here to get the job done, so do it.'

Taz nodded, and the Admiral continued. 'Your own personal crew has five privates, all of which will be re-assigned if this mission goes to plan. Christie, Squidgy, Johns, Theo and Rabbit. Each has a little tech training, and each one signed up willingly.'

'How old are dey?' Taz asked, handing the Admiral a drink.

'Most of 'em are just older than you, but two of them are 28.' The Admiral looked down and sighed. 'You know, you and Up have done a lot for this planet- among others. I know it isn't the time, but are the rumours true?'

'Which ones? De ones dat say he eats eagles or de ones dat say we're dating?' She asked plainly, taking a sip of her coffee.

The Admiral almost spit hers out laughing. 'Ah Taz- the toughest 22 year old in the world and still the funniest girl in the galaxy. You know which one I'm talking about!'

Taz smiled into her cup. 'Both.'

'Well in that case, I have something else I want to talk to you about.'

Up returned a few hours later, his face red. 'Taz?'

Taz stood up and ran over to Up, pulling him in close. 'De Admiral was here today.'

'Admiral Everts? What'd she want?' Up asked, pulling Taz onto his lap as he sat down on the couch.

Taz put her arms around his neck, chewing on her cheek. 'We have one more mission- and dis one might help end de war for good.'

'There's a but.'

'Jeah- on jour lap. Now cállate and let me talk.' Up raised his hand and zipped his lip, smiling smugly. Taz mumbled something under her breath, then continued. 'She took a special interest in us, and wants us to have a physical before we go.'

'So? Same as every mission.' Up put his hand on Taz's back- there was clearly something else.

She shook her head. 'It's nada. And we have a little journey tomorrow- Charlie's birthday.'

Up smiled, and pulled a large paper bag from behind his back. 'I still don't know how we didn't miss a single one, even with all those missions.'

Taz snorted. 'Jou almost missed one because jou pressed de wrong buttons in de drop-pod! And don't get me started on jour terrible driving.'