770 Words, this chapter

Chapter Four, Agony

Becker had been cruising, making record time, when he got a sudden feeling of doom. Something bad had happened. The feeling was so intense that he actually pulled over and stopped the bike.

He had a sudden urge to check his phone.

In alarm, he saw he had a dozen or so text messages. Jess. The feeling of doom turned to a sickening panic. Then terror gripped him as he saw consecutive pics of dinosaurs charging toward the camera, toward Jess.

Then she screamed his name and he felt a hole in his heart. He stared helplessly at the phone.

He was in the middle of nowhere! It would take hours to reach her.

He phoned the ARC. "Matt?" he asked, trying to keep panic from his voice. "Jess is in danger."

"We know," said Matt. "We're on site," he said calmly, too calm.

"Matt?"

"Becker, I…" said Matt, choking on emotion. "There's nothing left, nothing but ruins, Becker."

"God…"

"I'm so sorry. The building is totally demolished."

Becker closed his eyes, wishing it was a bad dream. "Then she's under it."

"I know., but it's hard, going, especially with a terrified and hurt Triceratops trying to dig itself out. Abby's tranquilizing it now."

"Then you'll get Jess out."

Matt sighed. "We have a Rex on the loose, it escaped the collapse apparently. Becker, our priority has to be the Rex and the anomaly."

"I don't care! Dig her out!"

"Becker, easy," said and eerily calm Lester. "No one is giving up on her."

"You got that right," Becker snarled.

"Just get here, Captain."

"As soon as humanly possible," Becker vowed. He then turned off his phone and pushed the bike as fast as it could go.

After he hung up with Becker, Lester surveyed the scene: dozens of firetrucks, police, ambulances, and ARC vehicles. The site itself was swarming with engineers digging through the rubble. Reporters were trying to get closer, kept back by police.

"We're too exposed," he mumbled. "How the hell do we load up two dinosaurs in all this chaos?"

"You'll figure something out," said Connor, over comms.

Lester sighed. "Sometimes it is a heavy burden to be the leader."

"How's digging?" asked Abby, also over comms.

"We have the triceratops nearly out. Judging from the photos, I'd say Jess is under it."

Silence over comms.

"We won't stop until we find her," Lester assured them.

"We know," said Abby.

"Yeah, but if she's under a collapsed building and a dinosaur…" Connor said.

"Then the odds are not great," agreed Lester. "I'm not a betting man, so I don't care. We dig until we find her."

More silence.

"Right," said Matt finally. "Let's find the Rex and the anomaly and get back to help."

The others agreed.

Lester silently nodded. "That is the plan." He watched as his people slowly dragged the Triceratops from the mound. He began searching his phone for a truck, wishing Jess was there to handle such matters. He winced at the selfishness of the thought.

"Connor, split off from the rest of us. Find the anomaly," said Matt over comms. "We'll get the Rex. The faster we get this done, the sooner we can search for Jess."

"Yes and do be careful," said Lester. "We're short staffed and don't need to lose more people."

Anderson said dryly, "Thanks for the concern."

"We'll do our best to keep your ranks filled," said Connor.

Lester smiled slightly at the teasing. They were good enough to play along and not call him on the fact that his bluster disguised his feelings. He was worried sick. The team splitting up made him uneasy; Becker wasn't even on site yet, and then of course, there was Jess. "Not a good day," he muttered.

Becker sped, praying he didn't catch sight of any police, because he wasn't stopping. He'd lead them on a chase to Jess' location if need be. He wasn't slowing down for anything or anybody. Luckily, traffic was as sparse going back as it had been going down. He thought of nothing but Jess Parker, and getting to her.

He hoped the gasoline held out because he had no intention of stopping even to refuel. And Lord help the Universe if the bike broke down. Yes, the engine was being pushed to its limit, but that was just too bad. He was getting to Jess, so help him. He was getting to her.

End of Chapter Four