The next day, Sky and Ani sat in Cruger's office as he entered with a file in hand.

"I received this from one of our agents in deep space a few months ago," he said as he sat at his desk. "It reveals that Grumm hired Murlock to capture your father all those years ago."

"So… he's still alive?" Ani questioned as she took the file into her hands.

"As far as I can tell, yes," the canine replied.

Sky took the file from his sister and clenched his fists. "All this time Grumm's known where he is," he growled. "It's not fair!"

"No, it's not," Cruger said. "But with Murlock in containment, we shouldn't have to worry about him."

"We need to find him," Ani said softly. "I don't care if we have to destroy Grumm himself, we're getting our father back."

"No need to rush Lieutenant," Cruger said. "We've only just received this information. We'll come up with something, I promise."

The twins rose, saluted and walked back to their quarters.

Ani followed Sky wordlessly back to his room, and sank onto his bed, laying back and staring at the ceiling.

"I can't believe this," Sky said as he sat next to her.

"I know… it's just… God I don't know how to describe it," she replied.

"We have to tell mum… and Collin and Lucky."

"And Uncle Wes, Aunt Jen, Auntie Lyssa, Uncle Cole…"

Their words trailed off as the reality of their father still being alive hit them.

Silent tears came to Sky's eyes and he let them fall. Ani too was upset, and she let her eyes spill over as well.

"Collin and Lucky want to come up this weekend," she said softly. "We could tell them then."

Sky shook his head. "No… I think… I think we need to go home. Tell everyone at once."

Ani nodded. "You're right, but will Cruger let us go?"

"I'll ask. I mean Silver Hills isn't too far away. If we were needed back we could always call the runners." Again, Ani nodded… they were going home…

Later that evening, Sky was sitting on the roof looking out at the stars. He had so much going on right now, and all he wanted was something stable… he wanted Syd.

She had been patient with him ever since their night up there. They really hadn't had a chance to see each other the way they wanted, but he defiantly knew he wanted to be with her.

"This seat taken?"

He turned and saw Syd standing next to him. How had she gotten up there without him knowing? He motioned for her to sit and she did, carefully taking his hand in hers.

"Ani told me about your dad… I'm so sorry," she said gently. Sky wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

"Thanks… did she tell you we're heading home?" Syd nodded.

"Kat suggested maybe we go with you guys… see where SPD really started at the Silver Protectors place."

Sky smirked. "It's Silver Guardians Syd," he said gently. Syd laughed a little.

"Sorry." He laughed and leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Z mentioned she wanted to see some guy name Cole too."

Sky smiled. "Yeah. He's kind of my uncle. He fought alongside Z's dad with my mom and Aunt." The two were quiet before Sky got the nerve to ask her something. He gently cupped her face with his palm and leaned in, kissing her gently.

"Sky," she said softly.

"Would you be interested in a tour of Silver Hills while we're there?"

"Like a date?" she asked smiling. Sky leaned down and stayed millimeters from her face.

"Just like a date," he replied as he kissed her. Syd responded excitedly and kissed him back with everything she had.

"Absolutely," she responded as they broke away. Sky smiled and pulled her close as they watched the stars.

Ani on the other hand was in the lab typing away. She wanted to know everything about Grumm and what he was capable of. Everything she got said the same… he was an overlord who had the power to take over entire planets.

What she really wanted was a way to hack into his ship's system and find her father or anything on him.

A cup was set down next to her and she jumped a little as Jack took a seat on the desk.

"Thought you could use something to keep you up," he replied. "You've been down here for hours… let's go for a walk."

Ani looked at him and the cup of incredible smelling coffee. She took the cup and pressed it to her lips. "Thanks," she said after she drank. "But I'm fine. I really need to get this done."

"What is it exactly?"

Ani sighed and pulled up a file. "Everything we know about Grumm. I want to find out what he could have done to my father."

Jack took her hands in his and kissed them. "You can't keep pushing yourself like this. I know all you can think about is work, but if you keep doing that it'll destroy you… I want to take you out."

Ani looked at him oddly.

"Not a date, seeing as that's against some rule you found. Just come outside to clear your head. You're a ranger now, you need to get out… bond with your team."

Ani smiled and took her hands away, shutting off her laptop. "Not too long," she said.

Jack was grinning like an idiot as he took her hand and led her to the garage where his bike was kept. He handed Ani her helmet off her bike and donned his.

"Where are we going?" she asked as they mounted the bike. Jack just grinned and shut his visor, speeding out of the garage with Ani clinging to him.

They drove along the streets of New Tech City, away from the city. Ani watched as the city faded away and they climbed a small road up a hill. Jack stopped the bike and they both got off.

Jack watched as Ani removed her helmet and shook out her long dark blonde hair.

"You're beautiful," he said.

Ani placed her helmet on the bike and grinned. "And you're a liar," she replied as she walked over to the edge of the hill overlooking the city. She sat down and Jack followed, sitting next to her.

"I wasn't lying," he said sincerely. Ani turned when she felt him take her hand. "I mean it. I know it's against some kind of regulation, but I can't help it."

"It's not right Jack," she said. "If we were to-"

Her words were cut off as Jack leaned over and kissed her gently. He cupped her face with his hands and asked silent permission to go further. Ani opened her mouth slightly and their tongues gently rolled around each other.

The other kisses they'd shared were kind of rushed… this one was anything but. Ani's hand found their way into Jack's hair, and he groaned slightly as she played with his braids.

The broke away and Ani kissed him quickly. "Screw the rules," she said as she settled into his arms.

"Miss straight laced, by the book? Are you sure?" he asked. Ani took his hands and wrapped them tighter around her.

"Absolutely."

"What about Sky?"

"What about him? If he has a problem, he's going to have to deal with it… plus I think Syd will keep him occupied." Jack smiled. He knew they had a thing for each other.

Jack kissed her neck and she smiled.

"How did you know about this place?" she asked.

"Z and I found it when we were running away from these guys… they tried to rob a friend of ours and we stopped them."

"It must have been hard living alone for so long," she said.

Jack sighed. "Yeah… it was for a little while, but we got along." They were silent for a few more minutes before Ani yawned. "Sorry I'm boring you."

"You're not… I'm just tired from everything that's happened."

Jack pulled her a bit tighter and she snuggled against him. "What happened to him?" Jack asked gently.

Ani sighed and began her tale. "He was asked to start a division of SPD here on earth. Grumm didn't want it to happen, so he tried to get him to stop… Sky and I were abducted when we were little and that was it for my father… he found us and went on a mission with a few other rangers to stop him from hurting us again.

"He left us Jack. Left me, Sky, our brothers… our mother… he just left…"

Ani held her composure and felt Jack running his fingers along her arm. "But he's till alive?" he asked gently.

"According to the files we have," she said sadly. "I just don't know how we're going to tell my mum… they love each other so much… she's either going to freak out or try to rescue him herself."

"Sounds like someone I know," Jack teased. Ani lightly pinched his arm.

Ani just sat back in his arms, enjoying the feeling of someone with her. She had been alone for far too long.

"Sky and I are planning on heading home to tell her… I… I'd like it if you went with me."

Jack kissed her cheek. "I'll go anywhere for you."

Ani was touched by his words and turned to kiss him.

Meanwhile, in space, Grumm's warrior stood in front of him.

"You have an assignment," he said to his minion. The warrior nodded his helmet-clad head. "I want you to go to follow the rangers… and destroy them."

"As you wish master," the warrior said.

"Start with the Blue and Omega rangers…"