Title: Classroom
Rating: K+ mild language
Spoilers: NO
Description: Two paleontologists are about to learn that they don't know nearly as much as they thought. They're about to be schooled, courtesy of a yellow light.
Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or characters.
Author: This is an attempt at variety. I write a lot of romance and humor. I'm not sure what genre this is, frankly. I'm still working on this. I haven't written the next chapter yet.
Classroom, Chapter One
"I know you don't want to hear any more of my theories, Doctor, but I was watching a research film on the Bagarataan dinosaur and the scientists who've studied the skeleton agree with me. We all think it's not a t-Rex but a relative of Troodon."
Dr. Moore sighed. He was getting too old for these debates. He knew his field of paleontology better than these young pups.
"It is irresponsible" said Moore tiredly, "to judge an entire type of dinosaur by one incomplete juvenile skeleton. It may indeed be a relative of Troodon, but stating that as fact with so little evidence is shoddy paleontology."
Stanley smiled at his mentor. He was brilliant, but becoming as rigid and stale as the skeletons. "If it is a Troodon relative, think what it could mean. Is it as brainy?"
Dr. Moore laughed. "Brainy is a relative turn, junior. And when using it to describe a dinosaur, one should take into consideration that the specimen would still be dumber than a walnut."
Stanley laughed. "Point taken, Dr."
He stared off into the distance. Suddenly, a yellow, flashing light appeared.
"Stanley, do you see that or do I need to get out of the sun?" said Dr. Moore.
"I see it Dr. What is it?"
They stared at the anomaly. Being scientists they both were compelled to investigate.
"What is it indeed?" mused the doctor, getting up and moving toward it.
Then they heard a roar, and they both ran. Seconds later, a Troodon came charging through. It wasn't huge. It was about the size of a man, 6 feet tall and about 140 pounds.
"Oh, my God!" screamed Stanley. "Do you see it?"
"Yes. It's magnificent!"
"It's real! It can't be, but it is! It's a real, living Troodon!" Stanley was practically wetting himself in the excitement.
The scientists stood still, watching their research come to life. It was bipedal, and bright green, like a shiny, tropical plant. It also stood still, craning its long neck to look around. It sniffed the air, trying to sense danger.
"Look at its head!"
"I know. It does have the capacity for a large brain!"
"This is so exciting! A real live, specimen instead of dusty bones," cried Dr. Moore, sounding more like a young pup himself.
"I wish it would move!"
"There it goes. It's moving!" cried Dr. Moore.
"It's coming this way," said Stanley.
"Great! We can see it close up!"
"Uh, Doctor, it's a carnivore, probably scared, and we're in its way."
"Hmm, oh. You're right."
"Run!"
Meanwhile, at the same site but a distance away, the ARC team had arrived.
"Where's the anomaly, Jess?" asked Matt into the comm.
"50 yards to your left. I wish the area had CCTV. I hate being blind."
Becker chuckled. "Where do you expect them to hang the cameras?"
"They could do it. They have a camera the size of a pin head. I think they could manage to rig up monitors along a bunch of white cliffs."
"Let's get moving," said Matt.
They moved cautiously in the direction Jess led them. Then they heard screams.
"Human," said Connor. "That's a relief."
Then they heard a roar.
"Spoke to soon," said Abby.
"It wasn't very loud though," said Matt. "Maybe we're dealing with a smaller species."
"I like that," said Connor.
"Smaller dinosaurs can still eat you, Connor."
"Thanks for the warning Action Man."
As they ran toward the screams, two men ran toward them.
"Help!"
"It's chasing us!" cried the second of the two men.
"What is it? Describe it to us," said Matt.
"You won't believe it," said the older man.
"Try us," said Abby.
"Heads up!" yelled Becker, seeing the dinosaur approach.
"Oh my God!" cried the older man.
"Easy," said Matt. "We've got it."
He nodded to Becker, and they fired. The dinosaur fell.
"Like I said," said Connor. "I like the smaller species."
"It's a Troodon," said Matt.
"That's right," said the younger stranger. "Are you a paleontologist too?"
"I dabble a bit," said Matt.
"I am Dr. Moore, and this is my associate Dr. Stanley. We are both paleontologists."
"Great, more Connors," muttered Becker. Abby smiled.
"You must be quite excited by this then," said Connor.
"Indeed," said Dr. Moore.
"Let's get on with the mission," said Becker. "Is the anomaly still stable, Jess?"
"Yes."
"Good," said Matt. "Let's get to work."
"What are you doing?" asked Dr. Moore.
"We're going to handle the dinosaur," said Abby. "Don't worry we're trained for this."
"So are we," said Stanley.
Becker scoffed. "No offense, but the live ones are a bit different."
Matt and Becker grabbed the dinosaur, and carefully lifted it, carrying it toward the anomaly, as Jess guided them.
The two paleontologists followed the ARC team. They arrived in front of the anomaly and set down the dinosaur.
"What is it?" asked Dr. Stanley, gesturing to the anomaly.
"I'm sorry, but we aren't at liberty to say," said Abby.
Dr. Moore huffed. Abby figured that he was a man who didn't like being out of the loop.
Connor set up the locking device. "Ready."
"Ready for what?" asked Dr. Moore.
"I told you. We take care of these situations," said Abby.
"How?" asked the young doctor.
"Ready to send it through," said Matt. Connor nodded.
Matt and Becker picked the thing up, which was much easier than usual, and approached the anomaly.
"Stop! What are you doing?" screamed Dr. Moore, running in front of them and blocking their way to the anomaly.
"Step out of the way," said Matt. "Let us do our jobs."
"No! You can't!" cried Dr. Stanley. "You can't get rid of it!"
"We have to study it. We finally have a living specimen. Think of how far this will propel paleontology," said Dr. Moore.
"Get out of the way," barked Becker.
"No! You have no right! As a leading paleontologist, I demand you give us the specimen for research."
Matt laughed.
"Guys," said Jess. "What's going on?"
"We're fine Jess, just dealing with a couple of pinheaded eggheads," said Becker.
"We don't have time for this," said Abby. "We have to get this dinosaur back to its own time."
"No!"
Becker looked at Matt, and Matt nodded, taking the dinosaur completely in his arms.
Becker moved away from Matt, and toward the men.
"Move aside, or I will shoot," he said.
Dr. Moore laughed. "You muscle-brained storm troopers are all alike. You think that solves everything."
Becker looked at Matt, smirked, and shot Dr. Moore with his EMD.
"I love shooting eggheads," he said.
"What have you done?" screamed Stanley.
"It's OK, kid," said Matt, dragging the dinosaur. "The gun's non-lethal. He'll be fine."
"Sore," said Becker. "And with a hell of a headache, but fine."
Abby went to Stanley to calm him as he kneeled by Dr. Moore.
Becker, Connor, and Matt then pushed the Troodon through.
"Well, that's done," said Matt.
"Let's go," said Becker.
"We can't just leave them," said Abby.
"They're fine Abigail."
Connor shut the anomaly. "He's right Abs. Time to go."
Abby looked at Becker.
Becker sighed. "Fine."
Abby walked beside Stanley to their truck as Becker and Connor walked behind, carrying the unconscious Dr. Moore.
"You can't tell anyone," said Abby. "I know this is your life's work. I know the scientist in you is screaming, but you can't spread this around."
"Think of the panic, mate," said Connor.
"But think of all we could learn," said Stanley.
"It's a priority thing," said Matt. "What's more important knowledge or innocent lives?"
"I can't just forget about this, and the Dr? Please, he's an old, stubborn, dedicated coot. He'll hunt down the truth."
"Will he now?" said Matt. "Then I think you both better come with us."
End of Chapter One