Note: And now, after all of this, we are finally getting to the plot. Such as it is. This chapter's short, but the next is pretty long, so that makes up for it, I guess.

The next day dawned bright and clear. David felt like it should be gray and raining, the better to reflect his mood. This conflict with Romana was quickly sucking all the fun out of being a skybax rider, and, as he'd done the night before, he wondered a few times if it was even worth it. But he reported to the squadron just like always.

Today Oonu had something different for them: an actual mission.

"Tomorrow, a convoy will be departing from Pteros to the Great Desert," he announced. "They will be following the river canyons as far as possible, before turning and heading on a course for the lost city of Ahmet-Padon."

If it was a lost city, David wanted to ask, how did they know where it was? He held his tongue, though, not wanting to get into any more trouble.. Next to him, Romana straightened, an intensely curious look blossoming on her face.

"Apparently the recent discoveries in the World Beneath have sparked a new interest in archeology. The expedition will consist of fifteen humans, four ceratopsians, and an unspecified number of dromaeosaurs, with a sauropod accompanying until they exit the river canyons." Oonu stopped for a moment, looking at all of them to be sure they were still paying attention. "Obviously, a group this large will need significant support. The third-year cadets will be executing flyovers for the length of the journey, as well as regularly scheduled visits to Ahmet-Padon once the expedition reaches it. You, however, will be conducting a far more important observation. As the expedition will be using the river canyons, they need to be sure they will not be at risk."

Everyone nodded, knowing what he meant. Here, in the rainshadow of the Forbidden Mountains, water was both precious and dangerous. A storm on the fringes of the Great Desert could unleash a flash flood that raged much further than its sourse. In the sky and on the upper levels of the canyons the floods were not threats at all, but a ground expedition would be placed in grave risk.

"You'll be assigned to a specific area," Oonu went on, moving to the large map on the board nearby. "Check for evidence of recent flooding and for any alternate routes."

The map was marked with a roughly fan-shaped wedge, radiating out from the city and divided into sectors that corresponded to several dozen square miles in size. Each sector had names written in it; David and Romana had been given one of the sectors furthest from Canyon City, on the edge of the desert proper.

It was a test, David realized, his heart sinking. And if not a test, it was a forced opportunity - if Dinotopians could ever be said to force anyone into anything. Oonu was sending them out into the desert with ulterior motives. Admittedly, it was a considerate gesture: they would have the chance to resolve their problem, whatever the hell it was, in total privacy.

He looked at Romana and saw that she'd come to the same conclusion. Their eyes met for a moment, the shared knowledge flickering in hers, and then she pointedly looked away and raised her chin slightly.

David ground his teeth. God, this was getting so old. If she wasn't going to come clean about it, maybe he should just leave her in the desert.

The idea had more appeal than he wanted to admit.

Oonu concluded his briefing with, "You are dismissed. Cadet Romana and Cadet David, stay here."

The other cadets dispersed, most of them giving backwards glances at the unlucky two who'd been singled out. David, seeing the grim expression on Oonu's face, braced himself for the worst. He was becoming depressingly used to "the worst," he thought.

But Oonu was apparently through with the lectures and long, uncomfortable silences. He rubbed his eyes, looking suddenly tired, and said, "I hope you understand how important this is."

"Yes sir," David said. Romana echoed him a fraction of a second later.

"This is your last chance," Oonu warned, in a voice that made the phrase "gravely serious" seem inadequate. "If you do not perform to the best of your abilities on this mission, the Corps will be forced to seriously reevaluate your partnership. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir," they chorused.

Oonu speared them both with a glance and nodded. "Breathe deep, fly high."