.:Taylor:.

"What do you mean they're missing?" I asked.

Shannon ran his fingers through his hair. "Josh didn't come home last night. I checked with his friends, but they haven't seen him."

"Hm, well this could be a problem."

"I gave him a night, thinking he stayed with someone. No one has seen him since yesterday and I can't find Skye."

"Skye?" I rose from my chair and looked out the window. "They may have gone beyond the gate again."

He released a heavy sigh, "That's what I was expecting."

"The good thing is that the tracks should still be somewhat fresh. Also, I'm inviting Iris on the mission with us."

I watched as his eyes fell to the ground, but swiftly reconnected with mine. "Well, you're the Commander."

I grin appeared on my face. "And the two of you will be on a team."

"Anything you say, sir."

"Come on, Shannon. Lighten up. It's been two months since we found her in the forest."

"Yeah, I know. It just takes some time for me to get used to her being a Zero-Eight."

"There ya go. I'll take that. Once you two are actual friends, you two would make the best team."

"What makes you think that, sir?"

"She's intelligent and agile, and you have a gun. Put them together and it makes a powerful team."

He laughed lightly. "So the only good thing about me is that I have a gun? At one point you said that I was pretty smart."

"Yeah, but she's smarter."

"Ouch, that hurts."

"The truth tends to do that."

"Whatever you say, Commander Taylor."

00000000000000000000

.:Iris:.

I held in a sigh as I placed the knife back in its holster.

"All right, that's it for today."

All the kids moan and yell out, "Awww!"

I grunted from their wining, but forced a smile.

"We have survival training tomorrow, so it'll be okay."

"Yay!" They screamed at me. They smiled to me and scurried off.

Eko stood beside me. "How can you stand so many little pups all the time?"

"Because it's my punishment."

"They smell funny and act weird."

"That's normal for children."

"Two of them tried to touch my tail." He looked up to me. "Don't let them touch me again."

I patted his head gently, "You don't have to follow me everywhere I go, you know."

"We've been side by side since almost three years ago. I'm not leaving your side now."

We began to walk forward, but I stopped when I saw Taylor and Shannon strolling down the stairs. I offered a smile to them.

"Iris, I have a question for you." Commander Taylor spoke.

"Look, sir, I haven't done anything in the past two days to be punished further. I promise."

"I know, I know. That's not what this is about."

"Oh, it's not?"

Shannon raised an eyebrow, "Should we check security footage in case?"

"You can try to find me doing something, but you won't."

"Oh yeah? What were you doing at three twenty four yesterday?"

"Here we go again," Taylor mumbled.

"I was checking on Malcolm. Seeing if he had any work for me."

"You left almost as quickly as you got there. Explain that."

I sighed. "He said that he didn't want to risk getting me into more trouble. At least until after I'm off Colony Arrest."

"Don't expect that to be anytime soon."

"Oh come on. I was helping Malcolm two days ago with an important study. I can't be stuck with these kids all the time."

"You shouldn't have left."

"Taylor, please? Make him stop."

"You two are adults," he commented.

"How much longer under my Colony Arrest is lifted?"

Shannon laughed, obviously enjoying my misery.

Taylor had a smile. "Today."

I couldn't hide the smile from my face. "Are you serious?"

He nodded.

"Yes! I can go finish my study in Malcolm's lab." I jolted forward, but an arm stopped me. I looked back to see Shannon holding me back.

"A few of the teenagers have been missing since yesterday." Taylor spoke. "We're about to start a search beyond the gate. We would appreciate your skills to accompany us on the mission."

I felt my muscles tense from the memory of the raptors two months ago.

"Um, sure. Anything I can do to help."

"You, Shannon, and the mutt will be the trackers." Eko stared hard at Taylor. "Yes, you're the mutt."

He growled lightly, "I'm not a mutt."

"You're putting me and Shannon on a team?" I asked. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Shannon leaned against the wall with a giant grin on his face. I didn't share in his pleasure.

Even Taylor smiled. "Do good on this mission, and we will end your Colony Arrest and you can go help Malcolm or whatever it is you do."

I would finish some of my research outside the gate. I glanced at Shannon. But I have to work with that guy. Ugh.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Fine."