Learning to Dance

metal walkway that led out to a platform in the centre of the
inconveniently deep shaft. Robots didn’t see the need for
railings, or much in the way of lighting for that matter, so
Up carefully edged his way across and gestured for Taz and
the others to follow. If he squinted, he thought perhaps he
could make out the bottom of the shaft, just barely – at least
ten decks below.
The sound of a rush of shaky air came from behind him.
Up looked back. The other ensigns were on his tail, but Taz
was staring down at the pit with wide eyes, still at the
beginning of the walkway.
Seeming to sense his gaze, Taz shook herself and stood
taller. She stepped out onto the walkway, very determinedly
looking straight ahead at the core. Up reached the platform
and the other ensigns set to removing it. He waited for Taz
to join them, keeping a keen eye out for movement on the
shadowed walls of the shaft.
“Doing alright, rookie?” he said, quietly enough so the
others wouldn’t hear.
“I’m just hoping those robots show up so I can shoot the
hijos de puta,” she said with a bravado that might have
fooled anyone but him. He eyed her sideways.
“Got it, Commander,” said one of the other ensigns. He
handed the glowing purple tube over to Taz, and reached
for the radiation container.
“Intruder alert! Intruder alert!”
“Shit,” said Up. The mechanical voice seemed to be
coming from everywhere. He pushed the ensign, still
struggling to open the radiation container, toward the
walkway.
“We’ll deal with that later, go!”
Buzzers, raw and harsh, began to sound, and the surface
beneath them seemed to shudder. Making sure Taz was still
behind him, Up raced across the walkway with the others,