Learning to Dance

“I would have thought you’d have been pleased,” Space-
Claw said, a frown on his face. “I’ve given you a working
body, Commander. Another chance at life.”
“But I never asked for it, did I?” Up said, his voice rising
unusually high. “Who gave you the right to make me your
experiment? Your plaything? Why couldn’t you have left
me be?”
“Dead?” Space-Claw said evenly. “You’d rather I left
you dead?”
“Than this?” Up said, gesturing with his left hand at
everything he’d become – weak, sterile, less than human.
The tears were coming now, and he couldn’t stop them. He
was powerless.
The cafeteria had fallen completely silent. Up choked
back a sob.
Then hands on his arms. Taz had jumped over the table
and planted herself between him and Space-Claw, her back
to the Admiral. “Up- Up, what are you doing? What are you
saying? You don’t really want to be dead.”
He covered his face in his hands, wanting them all to go
away, even her. Especially her. His shoulders shook.
“You don’t really want to be dead,” Taz repeated, though
she sounded less sure.
“Commander-”
He felt Taz turn. “Shut up, Space-Claw. Go find
someone else to play mad scientist with.”
Her hands gently pulled Up’s away from his face, and
there it was, the evidence of his failure shining wet on his
cheeks, in his eyes. Hers were unreadable again. She stared
up at him for a long time.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said finally, and taking him
by the hand, she led him away from Space-Claw’s
astounded face, from all the prying eyes, from everything.