The combat deck smelled like sweat and old gym
shorts. Dust flew from punching bags as off-duty Rangers worked out their aggression on inanimate opponents. Taz, sitting cross-legged next to a pile of dirty towels, was watching Lieutenant Up put a bunch of ensigns through their paces in the ring. Most of them were boys, not much older than her, and they were putting on a fairly pathetic display.
“Ensign Lucas!”
“Yes, sir!”
“You wanna tell me what those are in your head? Those things under the eyelashes your mama thinks are so pretty?”
Silence. Someone chuckled.
“Uh, my eyes, sir?”
“Give the boy a prize!” bellowed Up. “Your eyes are for more than winking at pretty girls, Ensign. Use ‘em next time or you’ll be back on your arse on the floor again.
You’ve got to see what’s coming at you in battle, or you’ll be toasted faster than a marshmallow in a campfire. Next!”
The next ensign was no more impressive. “I should send you back to the Academy, the lot of you!” Up regarded his charges and sighed. “You’re over-thinking this, children. A warrior has to sense what’s going on and react – there’s no time for your brain to get in the way.” He shrugged off his uniform jacket and Taz sat up a little taller against the wall. Just so she could see the ring better.
“So,” said Up, and the ensigns drew back, looking
apprehensive. “Who’s going to give it a go? No takers?
Parker, how ‘bout you?”
The ensign stepped forward reluctantly, a stout boy who looked like he’d rather be typing complex code onto a computer screen than facing the ship’s most formidable fighter in combat.
“Now, come at me, Parker,” Up coaxed. “Try your best.”
Parker, after a nervous look at the others, charged. Up moved so quickly that Taz couldn’t tell what happened, but the ensign was on the floor and Up wasn’t even winded.
“Remember, keep your eyes on the enemy. Don’t let them surprise you,” Up said, helping the boy up. “Next!”
They continued in this fashion until the whistle blew for mess. The ensigns, variously limping or holding appendages gingerly, filed out of the deck. Taz bit her lip, and then approached Up.
“Stupid children,” he was muttering as he towelled off.
“I wasn’t kidding, they ought to send them all straight back.
There was a time when only the best soldiers even had a prayer of graduating from the Academy as Rangers. Now they’ll take anyone.”
Taz tried very hard not to look at his arms, which were on full display in his white tank top. “Why’s that?” she asked.
He looked down at her, and slipped his jacket on. “The robots, Taz. You think half those kids will still be alive in a year’s time?”
She looked at the door where they’d left.
“True Starship Rangers are becoming a rare breed,” Up said, picking up his gym bag. “There aren’t many of us left.”
He turned to leave.
“You could teach me,” Taz blurted. She hadn’t meant tosay it quite so bluntly.
The Lieutenant stopped and turned to look at her. She drew herself up as tall as she could, fully aware of how ridiculous she looked in her too-big uniform. “Teach you?”
he echoed, blankly
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