smoking rubble on the deck. Taz hung back as Up and
Lieutenant-Commander Rogers gave orders for the other
Rangers to secure the rest of the ship, her pulse still
drumming in her ears. She checked herself over for injuries.
Her ankle was throbbing painfully, but besides the skin
beginning to blister on her forearm, there didn’t seem to be
anything else new.
Finally, when the situation seemed under control, Up
came over to her and unexpectedly cupped her chin in his
hand. “You’re alright?”
She nodded, even as her eyes began to water from the
searing pain in her arm.
“You're incredible, Taz,” he said. “You just saved the
whole damn ship.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“We’ve got things organized here, Lieutenant,” said
Rogers. “Why don’t you get this girl to sickbay, get that
burn healed up before it worsens.”
“Yes, sir,” said Up. “Come on, Taz, let’s get you out of
here.”
They exited the bridge through the opposite door, where
the path was clear. Up frowned as they turned down the
corridor that led to sickbay. “Where’s my zapper, Taz? Do
you still have it?”
She felt her face grow dangerously warm as she
mumbled, “I- I threw it.”
“You threw it?”
He was laughing. She aimed a punch at him with her
good arm, but felt like laughing too.
Up was never more surprised in his life than when he
opened his door later that night to see the Commander
standing there on crutches, her leg freshly bandaged and a
look something akin to chewing a lemon on her face.