Merrick stood at the shuttle door, waiting for Fleet Commander Vorik. He needed to let Vorik know somehow that Alice was safe and carrying twins. He frowned when he saw that the co-pilot was right behind him.

He didn't like the little spy. He was annoyingly trailing behind them whenever they had things to do or to discuss. At least he knew his name now.

"Co-pilot Renn, you need to stop dallying and help get the shuttle ready for takeoff. I don't have all day," Merrick growled at the young co-pilot.

"Yes, Sir," Renn stated and then rushed to finish his work.

"Pilot Merrick," Fleet Commander Vorik stated.

Merrick showed the gesture of respect. "Yes, Fleet Commander Vorik," he said formally.

"It seems we are to search the city for zombies again. There were sightings the other night. When we get to the surface, I need to speak with those who live in the homes in the area reported. You will come with me."

Merrick gritted his teeth. Seeran must have reported it. He was the only one who knew of his mate. There couldn't have been another zombie in the area the other night. She was the only one he had scented.

"Yes, Sir," Merrick bit out, angry that Seeran must have reported the girl they found the other night, the zombie girl who had turned out to be his mate.

Fleet Commander Vorik studied Merrick. "Is there a problem, Pilot Merrick?" he asked, his voice hard.

"No, Sir," he stated, trying to calm his anger, and headed for the pilot's chair. "I don't see how zombies can get inside the dome, sir. The tunnels are empty. There have been no reports of anyone. Not even near the entrance of the tunnel system. We are just going to have another wasted day, like last time." Merrick told the Fleet Commander.

Fleet Commander Vorik looked at his pilot, anger spreading over his face. "And yet you will follow your orders, regardless of whether it is a waste of time or not."

Merrick swallowed hard, giving the gesture of respect. "Yes, Sir, Commander Vorik, sir."

As usual, Vorik sat in the co-pilot's seat while Merrick flew the shuttle down to the surface.

There was no talk between them this time during the flight, not even to give orders or to say anything for the benefit of the co-pilot.

"Am I to go with you as well, sir?" Renn asked Fleet Commander Vorik.

Fleet Commander Vorik turned in his seat and looked at the co-pilot. "At what purpose, co-pilot Renn? Do you have to accompany me on a fruitless search for zombies? You don't know what to look for; if one shows up, you can't fight them. So, what purpose can you possibly have by coming with us?" Vorik spat, clearly annoyed.

The young co-pilot swallowed. "None, Sir," he stated honestly.

The shuttle landed. Commander Vorik didn't speak while he covered himself in body armor and weapons to prepare to fight zombies that he didn't believe existed. He admitted to himself that he would rather be ready to fight, regardless of whether he needed to or not. If by some off chance they ran into zombies inside the dome, he wanted to be able to protect his people and himself.

Commander Vorik was angry at Council Leader Tosh, and something was bothering Merrick. The little shit co-pilot Renn wanted to follow again. He felt like he was snapping at everything.

Once geared up in shining black body armor and weapons, Commander Vorik headed out of the shuttle, Pilot Merrick rushing to keep up with him.

Once out of earshot of the shuttle, as Merrick followed Fleet Commander Vorik, Merrick asked. "Sir, is this another ruse, or were there real complaints?"

Vorik could tell that there was a tinge of something in his pilot's voice, but was trying to hide it.

"Is Renn following us?" Vorik whispered, not looking at him. Even Merrick had trouble hearing what he had asked.

"I don't see him, but that doesn't mean he's not there," Merrick told him. The first house they visited was one of Council Leader Tosh's men. On top of that, it was one of the ones who had approached Merrick.

Merrick knocked on the door for Commander Vorik. The door slid open smoothly. The man who opened the door looked at Merrick and paled, then looked at Fleet Commander Vorik. He gave a quick gesture of respect before speaking. "Sir?" he asked.

Commander Vorik looked at the man. He knew right away it was one of Tosh's men. "There was a report of zombies in this area. I am to tell you to keep a lookout for more. If you see any, you are to report it immediately," He stated evenly. "Have you seen any evidence of zombies in the area?"

"No, sir," the man stated.

After the door slid closed, he went to the next house. Merrick realized that all the homes in the area were the shy young woman and all the men who had approached him. Not just one, but all of them. Merrick had a suspicion that the group that had approached him had been seen and that Tosh was trying to test them.

When they went to yet another house, when the door slid open, it was Seeran. When Seeran saw him, he merely stated, "Is there a problem, sir?"

Commander Vorik stiffened. He hated all of Tosh's men. "There was a report of zombies in the area," Vorik stated coolly. "I am to tell you to keep a lookout for others and report any immediately if you see them. I also need to ask if you've seen any."

Seeran scanned behind them. Noticing the co-pilot hidden behind a building, watching. "Does your co-pilot always follow you around like that?" he asked loudly, looking right at the co-pilot. Vorik and Merrick turned to look at where Seeran was looking. The co-pilot stood up straight but didn't leave the spot where he was hiding.

"You might as well come out," Commander Vorik hissed. This little shit was making his day even worse than it already was.

Renn came from behind the building and walked up to them, not caring that they had been caught.

Seeran looked at Commander Vorik. "No one has seen any zombies, sir. I don't know why they keep sending guards to search for them, but we have seen none. May I ask who spotted one?" he asked Commander Vorik.

Vorik studied Seeran. "I was not told who reported it. Regardless. I am to tell you to be cautious and to keep an eye out for zombies in the area."

"Yes, sir," Seeran stated.

Commander Vorik continued to each house. At every residence, it was the same answer. There wasn't even one individual who stated that they had seen a zombie in the area. If the report came from within this location of the dome, it wasn't by any of those who lived in the area.

"Call the border guards and have them check their area along the dome to ensure there isn't a breach. And go find a vehicle; we need to drive the perimeter of the dome to check it ourselves," Vorik barked out.

Pilot Merrick made the gesture of respect. "Yes, sir." Then ran off to find a vehicle and to notify the dome's border guards.

Once Pilot Merrick was out of sight, Vorik, like a cobra, slammed his hand around Renn's neck and squeezed. The young co-pilot's face was darkening in color from the lack of oxygen. "You will follow orders, or you will be replaced. Disobey my orders again, and I will throw you in the brig, and you will be demoted. Do you understand me!" Vorik hissed. His eyes flashed with anger as he stared the young co-pilot down.

"Yes, Sir," Renn choked out, trying to get oxygen into his lungs.

Vorik slowly released his grip on the young co-pilot, who fell to his knees, grasping his throat and gasping for air. As he was stumbling to his feet again, Merrick drove up in a vehicle.

Merrick quickly glanced at the struggling co-pilot. Not caring about the young man's predicament. He did it to himself after all. "Sir, I notified the border guards about a possible breach. They know we will be following the border of the dome as well, sir," he stated formally.

Vorik got into the vehicle and waited for Merrick to get back in so he could drive them around the perimeter.

Renn attempted to get in. "Go back to the ship and get it ready to return. This won't take long," Vorik barked out.

Anger washed through Renn's features as he watched them drive off. They drove slowly around the dome, looking for a breach, stopping occasionally to speak to each section's border guard.

Merrick looked around them to ensure that the co-pilot wasn't following before speaking.

Merrick whispered. "There was a zombie two nights ago. A young girl. Kaul needed her to run some tests on. I don't know who saw it or if it was just a coincidence, but she was responsible for verifying a procedure to save Alice and her twins."

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