"Come on guys, down this way." Thom said as he looked up from the map. So far so good the first 45 minutes, and then they were right on the edge of Saurian territory. The drake turned back to his brother and comrade.

"This is it. Watch your backs everyone. And watch your step."

However before they could take the next few steps, a communicator went off, taking Danielle by surprise. Thom looked only to find it wasn't his comm, or Marcel's. It was Danielle's. Though she had a feeling on who it was, she answered anyway.

"Uh, this is Angelwing. Over."

"Angelwing.' Canard's voice sounded from the device. He sounded relieved to hear her voice. 'What's your status?"

"We're on the border of our territory, about to cross over."

"Why didn't any of you tell me you were going out?"

Danielle paused, she forgot about telling him in the haste of going on the mission. She felt foolish, so did the twins. Danielle could only stutter nervously at her comm. "Oh...I-I didn't-t uh...r-realize Sir."

"We didn't either, Sir. We were caught up in the mission."

Canard acknowledged the explanation with a hum."Angelwing, you didn't have to agree to this."

"T-the Commander gave me the choice whether or not to go, and I wanted to help.' She explained timidly.'Please, don't be mad Captain."

The cream colored female held her breath, waiting for the impending explosion. However, a sigh was heard on the other end. Canard's voice was surprisingly calm as he talked to her.

"Angelwing, I know you want to do your part for the resistance. But I'm not comfortable with you going out on a mission. Especially, alone."

"Hey, what are we?! Chopped liver?" Marcel asked incredulously. Danielle smiled at the drake, while Thom just chuckled.

"Sir, she needs the experience. We haven't run into trouble thus far."

"Alright. Watch yourselves out there guys. And McMallards, keep an eye on Angelwing."

"Yes, Sir."

"Okay. We'll talk to you later Captain. Over and out." Danielle replied.

"Over and out."

Closing her comm, the cream colored dolly looked at it with small smile. Then with her two comrades beside her, Danielle slowly trekked over the border right in to Saurian territory.


30 minutes later, Danielle and the two drakes stopped to read the map. Thom look up at the two of them. "It won't be long until we reach the spot where we lost contact with the squad."

"I bet we'll make better time if we can find a shortcut." Marcel said, but the older twin disagreed with a scoff.

"Marcel, don't go for another shortcut. You always get us lost."

To say the younger twin was offended was an understatement. "I do not!"

"You do so. Every Junior Ranger camp we had, Dad had to track either you or both of us down!"

"Dad overreacted at everything Thom! You know that!"

"Don't try to change the subject!"

Choosing to ignore their squabble, Danielle turned around and decided to hard the search for the missing squad, then paused. She should tell the twins where she's going, though they looked occupied, and she didn't want to get in between their fight. Danielle decided to at least try, besides is now really the time for an argument?

"E-excuse me?"

She spoke up, but the twins weren't listening.

"Hello?"

Still nothing. This time Danielle spoke a little louder, but in a firm voice.

"Permission to Scout ahead?"

Now they responded, but only half paying attention.

"Yeah, whatever!"

"Just stop interrupting!"

The dolly recoiled, hurt by Marcel's words. But at least she can go now, right? Yes. Danielle silently walked away.


15 minutes later, Danielle found herself a little lost."Okay, that looks like the old seamstress' shop. So this must be... Gretzky Avenue...or was it Ranger Drive? I wish Rosie was here. She's better at following maps." That's right, when she first got to Ducaine Metropolis, Danielle went with her sister-in-law a lot, to memorize the street names, where her school was.

Around the corner, she found herself staring down an old neighborhood. The street was deserted and the buildings were falling apart, but this vaguely reminded Danielle of her home, in the days before the war. How she would go to school, and work, and go to dinner with her family once a week. She and her family had been struggling to survive for so long, she had almost forgotten what it was like to not have to. 'It's all just a dream now...Drakes rushing home to kiss their wives... children playing without a care in the world...'

Then, she remembered that she was supposed to be looking for the missing Squad. Shaking her head Danielle looked around to spot anything. "If I were a group of soldiers,' She whispered in thought. 'Where would I hide? Hmm...Undercover."

Suddenly, there was a rumbling thud. Another one and so on. As the noise got louder, Danielle's feathers rose up on end, as her heart started to be faster. She knew what that was.


The twins were finally settling their argument. "Marc, we're on mission. We can argue about this later, but not out here."

"You've got a point.' Marcel sighed. 'Let's get to it."

"All right. Let's go Angelwing.' Thom said. But didn't hear a response. 'Angelwing?" Turning around, he could see why she didn't respond, she wasn't there. Marcel too, didn't see their friend.

"Where'd she go?"

But the twins didn't have time to look for her as they heard a noise. They looked and froze in worry.

Marcel exclaimed in a whisper. "Monitor Tower!"

And it was heading their way!

"Split up!" Thom ordered. Then the two of them raced for cover, hoping their female comrade will be okay.

Meanwhile, Danielle saw the Monitor Tower getting closer. She wanted to panic, but forced herself to stay calm long enough to think and look around for she looked back at one of the old houses, and ran to hide under the stairs leading to the porch. There was just enough shade to conceal her. And just like before when she met Canard, Danielle kept very still and quiet. Until the enormous robot stomped away.

Safe at last, the female duck slowly climbed out of her hiding spot. And walked back the way she came to catch up with the twins.