Learning to Dance

the planet by herself, and now they’d received a distress
signal from her com badge. The peaceful colonization
endeavour had just become a rescue mission, and she was
stuck with a squad of Rangers that must have been recruited
straight from the circus. A Farm Planet bumpkin, a zap-
happy private, and fresh from the Bright Eye, Specs – the
girl who couldn’t run ten metres without tripping over her
own feet.
“The Commander Up?”
She turned her back to hide the small smile that crept
onto her face, despite her frustration. It was nice to know
that his reputation was intact. She half-listened to their
chatter, checking the charge on her zapper, thinking of what
it had been like to see Up in uniform again, looking so
much like his old self. It had given her hope. Of course he
was nervous. He hadn’t been on active duty for two years.
Who wouldn’t be? But as long as he could put up a front for
the team...
“... but now, he’s like a total wimp. Like the other day,
he was in the cafeteria, just crying in front of everybody.”
Taz turned. “Hey!” she barked, one hand raised
threateningly at Krayonder. “You got something to say
about the Commander?”
“Uh – no -” The private said, suddenly looking worried.
“Oh – I forgot, you guys fought in the Robot Wars
together!”
Sí, we fought in the fucking Robot Wars together. “Yeah,
Krayonder,” she spat. “Where he saved my life a hundred
times.” And gave his human life for mine...
“Well, yeah, he was like, a super-soldier!”
Rage filled her. Stupid private shooting his mouth off.
Time for damage control. “What do you mean, was?” she
said, swinging her fists together dangerously.