Chapter Four
Boarded
Taz was wrapping her ankle in her bunk when Up
came in after a long meeting with the Commander. He sat
down, pulled his boots off, and watched her wind the
bandage around her foot.
“Not like that,” he said. “You’ve got to support it.”
She silently held the roll of bandage out to him. He
moved to sit on her bunk, gently lifted her foot, and
unwrapped what she’d already done. She winced a little.
“Sorry,” he said, and started wrapping it again. Taz had
been quiet today, but he thought he knew why.
“Tomorrow we arrive at the Academy, ¿sí?” she said
now.
He didn’t meet her eyes. “Sí.”
“And then you take me to the refugee centre, ¿sí?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Up,” she said, so that he had to look at her. “I don’t
want to go.”
“I know,” he said.
“I want-” she hesitated. “I want to enrol at the Academy.
I want to be a Starship Ranger.” She lifted her newly
wrapped ankle and flexed it. “Like you, Up.”
He took his time replying. “I know,” he said finally.
“I’ve already asked Commander Li if you could enlist.”
Her eyes lit up, and it was both the most wonderful and
tragic thing he’d ever seen. “But she refused, Taz,” he said
hurriedly. “You’ve got to be eighteen to join. And the