Learning to Dance

“Don’t waste them, sí, lo sé,” she said, gripping the
trigger. “Just fly, Commander.”
Up, in his early career, had spent a short time as a fighter
pilot, this she knew from the stories that cycled the mess
hall. That’s when, they said, he had earned the silver wings
that adorned his dress uniform – though he’d never spoken
of it to her. Even with the Arrow’s limited maneuverability,
Up dodged several rounds of fire from the foremost robot
ship and darted directly below it. Taz aimed the first cannon
upwards.
“¡Hasta luego, jodidas tostadoras!” she hollered with
glee as she squeezed the trigger and the robot ship exploded
in a shower of flame. She heard Up laugh as the Arrow
rolled to avoid another blast from the second robot ship and
flew underneath it -
The Arrow rocked suddenly, and warning lights flashed
everywhere. “Direct hit!” said Up. “Shields are down!”
“Maldita sea!” said Taz, peering at the sensors. “Another
hit like that-”
A second shot skimmed the Arrow’s wing, sending the
ship reeling in an uncontrolled spin.
“Aft cannons are gone!” Taz called, as Up’s fingers flew
over the controls. “I’ve only got one left!”
“Well then, we’d better make it count!” Up shouted
back, and swung the Arrow to face the two oncoming robot
ships head on.
Taz pulled the trigger.
Their last cannon flew straight – and straight into the
robots’ oncoming missile. The force of the collision, and
resulting explosion, pummelled the Arrow with shrapnel
and debris and sent them whirling. Taz, clutching the arms
of her chair, watched the radar screen in wonder.
“Up – we actually got them! The closest ship – it’s been
destroyed by the explosion!”