say it quite so bluntly.
The Lieutenant stopped and turned to look at her. She
drew herself up as tall as she could, fully aware of how
ridiculous she looked in her too-big uniform. “Teach you?”
he echoed, blankly.
“How to fight,” she said, her heartbeat in her ears. “I
may be little, but I’m fast. I’ve been scrapping on the streets
since I was a little niña and I know I’m better than any of
those ensigns.”
He looked skeptical.
“I mean it, I could beat those idiotas any day. But you
could make me better – you’re the best fighter I’ve even
seen.”
Was he blushing? She chalked it up to exertion. “Why do
you want to know how to fight, Taz?” he asked.
For a moment she heard the rrrr, rrrr sound of a robot’s
deadly approach. She closed her eyes, opened them again,
and looked straight at Up.
“Because I never want to be that helpless again. The next
time I meet a robot, the hijo de puta is going to be the one
tied up in a tree. And I’m going to be the one laughing.”
He was silent for a long time. Then he nodded.
“Meet me here, after lights out. We’ll see what you’ve
got.”
She was as good as she said she was, quick, and could
dodge a punch like nobody’s business. But her style was
rough around the edges, unrefined.
“You fight like a wildcat. You’re using your instincts,
that’s good, but you’ve also got to strategize. I’m twice
your size. You’re not going to beat me with strength.” She
dodged another hit. “Or by dancing around me all night.”
“I don’t dance,” she panted, tossing her thick braid over
her shoulder. “And besides, you told the ensigns they were