Learning to Dance

He felt his own weapons pressing against the small of his
back, underneath his jacket. How could he get to them
without the others seeing?
“Dr. von Tuppington,” came the same snide voice. It was
their sandy-haired target, sounding slightly out of breath but
rather pleased with himself. “I was hoping we’d have a
chance to meet again tonight. But then, that’s not really
your name, is it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir,” Up bluffed
as Taz slowly, discreetly slid her hands down his chest, and
beneath his jacket to his back. “My wife and I-”
“Did a very good job of convincing the bimbos in there
of your little act,” the traitor continued. “But not me, I’m
afraid. Though you are a wonderful dancer, darling.”
Taz’s hands had found both zappers holstered at his
waist. She moved her leg forward imperceptibly, and he
could just make out the outline of the knife she’d strapped
to her thigh beneath the red fabric of her dress. He was
going to have to be fast.
“So now, let’s not make a fuss about this, no need to
disrupt the party. If you’ll just come with us-”
Up ducked down as Taz pulled the zappers from his belt
and swung them around to face the enemies on either side,
letting out a battle cry as she began to fire. They scattered,
taken by surprise. Crouching at her waist, Up slid his hand
up her leg until he found the knife. Swinging himself
around, he stood so that they were back to back, and looked
for a target as she continued firing.
“Shit, Taz, why couldn’t you have fit a zapper under
there, too?”
She laughed, the light of the lasers dancing across her
face. The enemies were firing back, and the sandy-haired
target was creeping away toward the ballroom, where the
music had stopped. Up’s lens was still showing the