Learning to Dance

capable of – and crewed by the best Rangers the G.L.E.E.
had to offer. It was the perfect ship for the job.
“All right, kids,” Up raised his voice as he entered the
weapons room, and the Rangers stopped chanting to listen.
“Remember, no mercy. We shouldn’t meet any robots – but
if we do – feel free to kill the sons of bitches.”
Grunts and shouts of assent, and the Rangers loaded
themselves into their smaller transport ship, the Arrow, for
the short journey to the robot ship. Energy was running
high. Soon a chorus of “Rookie! Rookie! Rookie!” started
up again. Up thought he saw a small smile on Taz’s face,
where she sat squished between two other ensigns. She was
going to do just fine.
When they had docked, silently, with the designated
hatch of the robot ship, the Rangers turned expectantly not
to Up, but to the rookie.
“Just let me have the first bastardo,” she said, and there
was general hooting in approval.
Up divided up the ensigns, gesturing a direction to each
group. “Taz, with me,” he said, and with a few pats on the
back from departing Rangers, she followed him and two
others into the dark, winding hallways of the robot ship. He
knew she’d be fine - but that didn’t mean he couldn’t keep
an eye on her.
Up hated the robot ships. They were completely unlike
the smooth, clean beauty of the Cazadora or the Eagle. The
robots thought nothing of aesthetic value, so the walls were
covered in exposed wiring, structure turned inside out,
occasional flashing lights, crisp functionality. The hallways
were small, claustrophobic even. They were deep into
enemy territory now.
Their presence went unchallenged as they made their
way through the ship to the engine access shaft. The warp
core engine, one of three, was tiny and accessed by a bare