Chapter 3: Run
"Nighthowler," Thomas said in a a trance like state while looking up at Nick and Judy. "What did you say kid?" Nick asked. Thomas held his head tight still hearing the whispers ever increasing phrase, saying the same thing over and over again. "Nighthowler," He repeated again, Nick grabbed Thomas by his collar and pulled him closer muzzle to face. "What about the Nighthowler?" Nick snapped aggressively showing his teeth.
While gripping on Thomas's collar Nick suddenly triggered the collar's shocking defense mechanism. It zapped him one good one causing him to grunt slightly. Nick let go of Thomas letting the collar shock him. The teen winced slightly as it started to burn into his neck. Judy jumped in between him and Thomas before things got out of hand.
"Nick that's enough!" Judy ordered looking up at her friend. "Carrots. We don't have time for this. Didn't you hear what he's saying?" Nick said pointing at Thomas. She crossed her arms and started tapping her foot. "Yeah I know what he said, but that doesn't give you a right to torture him," Judy said then calmed herself, proceeding to stop her foot tapping.
"Six hours until deadline," The woman on the computer warned. Suddenly the electric collars all flashed green and popped off from their necks. Thomas held his neck from burns of his collar. Even though it'd only been a day or two it still felt great to have it off. "Now what's going on?" Nick wondered, as he rubbed his own neck. Six years of having it on then suddenly having it off seemed to do wonders for his tense composure. He turned his attention to the computer. Thomas stood up still holding his neck while walking over to the computer. "You really didn't need to do that," Thomas said rubbing his neck tenderly.
Nick only rolled his eyes as he puts his paws behind his back and started to think. "Nick we need to do something about this," Judy said as she watched her friend paced back and forth. "I know carrots I'm thinking about it," Nick said still pacing. "What do you think? Should we just tell everyone about this?" Thomas suggested sitting down next to the computer. Nick shook his head before looking at Thomas. "Are you crazy kid? Everyone will be in a panic," He said before looking away from Thomas.
"And what were you talking about the Nighthowler?" Nick asked as he rubbed his chin. Thomas rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know. I was hearing some voices in my head and they were saying something about the Nighthowler," Thomas explained. Nick only chuckled. "Great that was useless," He said crossing his arms. Thomas made a fist with his right hand. "I don't see you coming up with any great ideas," He huffed in slight anger. Nick turned to stare at Thomas with a look of loathing and got into his face.
"You want me to come up with a great idea! Well fine kid!" Nick shouted in Thomas's face before he went over to the computer and kicked it one good one in the CPU. "One hour until deadline," The computer said now showing the countdown at one hour. "Nick look what did you!" Judy shouted and pushed Nick out of the way to look at the computer. "I.. he…" Nick tried to get the words out but couldn't. "Now we really should tell the others," Thomas decided and Nick glared at him.
"If it wasn't for you we would have more time," Nick snarled giving Thomas a shove. "Me?! You're the one who kicked it!" Thomas shouted as he shoved Nick back. "Guys! There's no time for this! Everyone might think there's something up anyways since our collars popped off," Judy explained. Nick and Thomas stopped trying to kill each other and looked at Judy. "You can rip each other's heads off later but right now I think we need to get to the others," Judy reasoned as she walked passed Thomas and Nick then headed back up to the surface. "Judy!" Nick called out but she didn't look back at her friend. She just kept going leaving Nick and Thomas alone. Nick glared again at Thomas before going after her.
"When this is over kid you're gonna get it!" Nick threatened as he went after Judy. Thomas only shook his head then followed behind Nick. Once Thomas was out of the bunker, the door closed by itself and relocked up. "That was strange," He said with a raised eyebrow looking at the bunker door. "Alright Thomas stay focused," He coached himself then shook his head as he started running back towards the others. He ran through the small forested area trying to catch up to Nick and Judy who were so far ahead of him. "Guys wait up!" Thomas called out, but the two were too far ahead. He tried his best to try and catch up to them, but Nick and Judy were just too fast for Thomas. Fox and bunny benefits were almost cheating.
Thomas tripped and fell forward, landing on his face. "Ouch," He grunted in pain as he helped himself up. Suddenly he felt a sharp in his head as he fell backwards onto to the ground. Thomas held his head as he started to get a massive headache. A massive ringing started to echo throughout his head. He started to see some flashbacks of himself as a kid playing with a girl on a playground. Thomas tired to stand but couldn't tripped over a log and fell on his back again. He gasped and stared up into the sun setting in the sky. "What am I doing here?" Thomas whispered to himself. Everything started to fade away as another memory rushed to his skull.
(Flashback)
"Thomas you know what they're doing to these animals is wrong," A Girl with silvery blue eyes with blackish blonde hair said implored him. He looked at his friend with a tinge of remorse in his eyes. "I know Kayla but it's the way with world works now," Thomas said looking at back the window into the surgery room. She shook her head before looking into the surgery room with him. Two doctors were working on a snow leopard doing horrible DNA testing and tests to find out how these animals evolved talk and do the things most humans do in everyday life.
"I know that this is the way it has to be but I just…..my heart can't handle it with these people..and it doesn't mean I have to like it..." Kayla said as she stood up and walked to the nearest exit. Kayla stopped at the exit door and looked at her friend who was still watching the procedure. "Thomas?" She said softly.
Thomas turned and looked at Kayla. "Yeah?" He asked. Kayla looked to the ground before asking her question. "If you ever meet one of them..be sure to….you know..take of care them," She said with a slight plea in her tone. Thomas nodded before looking to the ground. "Because I know we're better than the people who invaded their home," Kayla said just as she left the room. Thomas sat there for a moment and thought about what his friend had said to him. He knew she was right. The way we are as humans, the ultimate predator now picking at these animals and invading their home. Killing off families and taking away their children from their parents and for what? To find the key to animal Communication? Thomas had enough of this as he stood up his seat and started hitting the glass and shouting. "Stop!" Thomas shouted and shouted like a madman.
(Present Day)
Thomas heard something explode as it shook him out of his memory. He sat up quickly as he looked up at saw a jet carrying a box that was heading for the main camp. "Shit what now?" He asked no one in particular as he shot up from the ground and started running towards the camp. Nick and Judy had already made it to the camp as Thomas was running out from the forest. Everyone was looking up seeing that they were getting another care package. "Another care package?" Mr. Otterton observed and looked up at the sky. The jet then let go of the package and landed on the ground with a loud 'THUD'.
Everyone started to gather around the package but were stopped when they heard Thomas's frantic voice. "NO! GET AWAY FROM THAT!" He shouted as he ran towards the group. "Wilde Keep that kid under control!" Bogo ordered. "Sir there's something going on that you should know about-" Judy began as she stood in front of Bogo. "Not now Hopps we have care package here and right now is the time to take this advantage and use it," Bogo said as he patted his paw on it.
"Chief no!" Nick shouted, but it was too late, Bogo opened the package and was shot in the neck with a neon red serum. "Sir?" Judy asked and placed her paw on his leg. Bogo turned quickly and looked at Judy with his Orange eyes turning black. Bogo got down on all fours and tried to run down Judy. She quickly jumped out of the way causing Bogo to hit a large rock with his horns. The rock cracked and split in half. Nick ran over to Judy and tried to help her up.
"Nick it's happening again!" Judy shouted as she took Nick's paw. "Yeah I know it is Carrots," Nick agreed while he helped her up. "Get down!" Thomas commanded before pushing both Nick and Judy down to the ground. "What's the matter with you?" Nick demanded rubbing his head. "You don't want touch that serum," Thomas said as he moved over to a boulder with Nick and Judy right behind him. "Kid we know what's going on with the serum," Nick said ducking for cover from the boulder. "It's the Nighthowler," Judy spoke up. Hearing those words again triggered another flashback.
(Flashback)
"We call it Nighthowler II, it's more advanced than the original. You see the original Nighthowler only resets the animals back to their Stone Age state, but with this new advanced version, we can reset them back to their primal state while also shutting down the receptors in their brain. It also works on the prey as well. I mean who wouldn't want to see Prey versus Prey, Predator versus Predator, or even the ultimate predator "The Human race" face off these animals in the future of warfare," The spokesman announced with a smile as the crowd cheered. "This guy makes me sick," Kayla said as she stood up from her seat. Thomas got up as well and walked out with his friend.
"Hey Kid!"
(Present Day)
Thomas was snapped out of his vivid imaginings and looked at Nick who was trying to get attention. "Guys this isn't your everyday Nighthowler. This one does much more damage," Thomas explained now hearing some others were being shot with the serum. This wasn't going to end well.. "What are you saying?" Nick asked. Thomas tried to think for a second but couldn't since half of the predators and some of the prey have already been hit with the new serum.
Thomas looked over to his right to see the Ottertons hiding behind a tree. "I'll explain that later but right now we all need to get to safety," Thomas said as he looked back at Nick. Judy looked past Thomas and Nick and noticed the Ottertons trying to hide. "He's right Nick," Judy agreed putting her paw on Nick's arm.
Nick turned around and noticed what Thomas and Judy were talking about. "Alright let's go," He nodded said as he, Thomas and Judy were ready to dash past the care package and past everyone infected with the serum. "Go!" Nick shouted before he, Thomas and Judy made a break for the Ottertons.
Nick and Judy were running far ahead while Thomas dragging behind. Two Black Bears started fighting and slamming each other down on the ground. Thomas had almost run into them but stopped right in his tracks so he didn't get killed in the crossfire. "Nick!" Judy said turning around seeing Thomas was left behind. Nick stopped and turned to look at Thomas who was standing there watching the bears fight. "Damn it kid," Nick shook his head then he started to go back for the boy he loathed.
Thomas looked for another way to get past bears but every time he found one the bears rolled in the way. He waited for a sure opening before jumping through. Once Thomas saw the opening he jumped through the bears fight and fell right onto Nick. "Really kid? I was coming back for you!" Nick groaned in protest rubbing his head. "Just shut it and run!" Thomas shouted as he grabbed Nick by the shirt and pulled him up.
The two Black Bears stopped fighting each other and charged at Thomas and Nick. "Nick! Thomas!" Judy called out as she watched her friends being chased by the infected bears. "Judy! Get the Ottertons out of here!" Nick shouted while he and Thomas continued to run. The ground suddenly started to shake as Judy looked to her left and saw a cave opening up from a large metal door. "Mr. Otterton we all need to over to that cave opening," Judy rushed them to their feet and pointed at the large door that was opening.
"But we don't know where that goes!" Mr. Otterton said as Judy tried to push him towards the cave. "I know but we don't have much choice! Now get your family out and be safe," Judy insisted. Mr. Otterton nodded as he started to gather his family and headed towards the cave with Judy right behind them. "I hope they will be alright," She said to herself.
Meanwhile Thomas and Nick ran through the forest trying to get away from the bears. "We can't shake them Kid!" Nick shouted as he looked back and saw the bears gaining on them. "Give me your paw!" Thomas shouted. "What? Why?!" Nick asked confused. He didn't hold hands with anyone except Judy even on the best of terms. "To do this!" Thomas grabbed Nick's arms and threw him up in the air into a tree.
Thomas continued running leaving Nick in the trees. "Kid what are doing?!" Nick shouted holding onto a tree branch. "Use the trees to get back to Judy! I'll circle around and head back you're way!" Thomas called back trying to outrun one of the bears. One bear that was after Nick started to climb up the tree. "Oh no you don't!" Nick said as he started to jump through the trees to get back to Judy.
Judy and the Ottertons stayed clear from the other predators and prey who were shot with the serum. She waited next to the opened door waiting for Thomas and Nick to come back. Her hopes were answered when Nick jumped from a tree and started running for Judy and the cave. "Come on Nick!" Judy shouted. Nick ran as fast as he could and made into the cave with relative ease. "Nick wheres Thomas?" Judy asked. Nick was holding himself with his paws on his knees nearly passing out from being almost out of breath.
"He..he…he's coming carrots," Nick said trying hold himself together. "Look!" Mrs. Otterton pointed outside. Judy and Nick both turned and saw Thomas running towards the cave with the bear still running after him. "Thomas come on!" Judy shouted now worried her friend would be too tired to run any longer. "Come on kid you get this!" Nick shouted. Things were looking good until the doors of the cave started to go down.
"Oh no," Judy said as she looked up and saw the doors were seeking themselves up again. "Thomas hurry up!" Nick shouted. Judy looked at Nick in confusion. 'Wow he really call Thomas by his name,' she thought to herself. It was now cutting it close. The point of no return. Thomas, the Bear and the door were all heading for a run down. Judy and Nick both had to kneel down on the ground to see where Thomas was. Thomas had to make a more risky move and he slid into the cave as the door closed behind him. There was a loud banging as the bear was now trying to break down the door but had no luck. The lights in the cave blinked on as Thomas laid on the floor breathing hard. "You okay kid?" Nick said as he handed out his paw. He grabbed Nick's paw and started to sit up with a huge tired sigh. "Yeah I'm okay," Thomas responded sitting up. "Good," Nick chuckled slightly at their luck.
"Um guys you might want to see this," Judy said from the back wall. Thomas and Nick looked at each other before walking to the back wall. "Mommy I'm scared," Hope, Mr. and Mrs Otteron's Daughter said to her mother. Mrs. Otterton looked down at her daughter and held her close along with her son. Thomas and Nick both looked at the back wall and noticed it was just a large screen showing a few words. "Stage 1 complete?"
Thomas said out loud. Suddenly the screen scanned Thomas's bar coded arm and repeated the numbers. "Subject 62585 approved," The computer wall said. The doors of the back wall started shining a bright light from sun inside the cave. Since it was so bright they all had to cover their eyes as the door opened.
"Oh Great," Thomas, Nick and Judy said at the same time.
XxTHOMASxX: This is the last remastered chapter. we will be updating really soon! tell us what you guys think of remastered chapters. And I give all my thanks to AtticusParker17for doing these remastered chapters and again we will be updating this really soon!