1238 Words this chapter

Chapter Seven, Rotation

Eventually Jess had gone back to bed, too depressed to do anything. Then the 'urgent' tone sounded on her mobile.

"Parker," she said.

"Jess, it's Alicia. We need you."

Jess felt her heart sink. "What's wrong?"

"I'm in over my head. We have multiple incursions in multiple locations, unknown amount of injuries, unconfirmed number of deaths..."

"Are Becker and the others..."

"They're fine, so far that is. Jess, please, come."

"On my way."

"Wait,"said Alicia "I...I didn't tell Lester I was calling you."

"I don't care. I'm coming."

Meanwhile, Alicia did her best to handle the chaos.

"It's crazy!" cried Connor over comms. He was trying to shout over a mass of terrified voices. "Kids running everywhere, some trampled on the ground, books flying..."

"Books?" asked Lester.

"We're in the library," said Abby. "We know there's at least one Deinonychus here."

"And the anomaly?"

"It's on the second floor," said Connor.

"We can't get to it," said Abby. "The lift is jammed."

"There is no other way to the top floor," said Alicia.

"Alicia, do you read?"

"Yes, Becker," she said.

"I'm at the dorm. The entrance is a wreck. I need another way in."

"Alicia, come in."

She groaned. "Here, Mr. Anderson."

"We need the layout of the Dining Hall and Kitchen. It's a bloody maze."

"Hang on."

"I can't! There's screaming all around us! People are dying!"

"I know that!" yelled Alicia. She caught her breath. "I'm very sorry. I'm trying."

Matt sighed. "I know too. Do your best, but try to hurry."

Alicia nodded, frantically trying to handle all the situations at once. Then it got worse. The screens went blank. "What in the hell?" she cried. "Sir, the cameras are out!"

Lester cursed.

"That won't help," said a calm voice.

They turned to see Jess.

"Miss Parker..." began Lester.

She held up a hand. "Don't. I know I'm not on duty. I know they're not my assignment, but I know this system, this job better than anyone. What's more...I know them...Becker, Abby, Connor, Matt, Emily. I need to be the one coordinating."

Lester looked at her and she held his gaze.

"Throw me out or let me take over," she said.

Alicia didn't wait. She jumped out of the ADD chair. "It's all yours."

Lester smiled and nodded.

Jess ran to the chair.

"How will you get the cameras back on?" asked Alicia.

"I won't," said Jess. She called up the college website.

Lester watched as a schematic of the college came on screen. "Brilliant," he said. "Find another way to see where they're going."

Jess nodded. "It helps that the boxes are still transmitting their positions."

"Alicia, we need that map."

"It's coming to your mobile, Matt."

"Jess, is that you?"

"Yes, sorry. You're stuck with me."

He chuckled. "Glad to hear it."

"I've lost all camera feeds to the college," she told him.

"Oh, no. That might mean the creatures got into the computer building."

"It's OK. I can guide you. I have the whole college layout and the previous footage to work from. I'm just a trifle blind, but not completely."

"It sounds like you're on top of it, Jess," Matt said.

"And the anomaly won't be moving" Jess added. "At least, it better not."

"I believe the creatures are in the same general areas," Emily said.

"Mine is," said Matt. "I'm in the main dining hall."

"I am behind the kitchens," said Emily. "I hear several loud roars near my position."

"That helps," said Jess, running quickly back through the recorded footage. "OK, Emily, I'm leading you to where the creatures were before we lost the cameras."

"I understand. I shall be alert."

"Good. No nasty surprises, huh?"

"Yes, that would be preferable."

She guided Emily to the first room, a small conference/dining room to the left of the kitchen and dining hall where Matt continued to engage one of the creatures.

"I can't tell you where exactly it is. I'm sorry."

Emily slowly approached. "I understand," she whispered. She peeked into the room. It was busy...chewing. Emily gracefully appeared in front of it and fired. "Creature contained."

Jess smiled.

"I hear the other creature," said Emily. "I believe it is next door."

"Copy. Matt, are you clear?"

She heard him grunt. "Not quite...yet..." He stopped talking and cried out.

She heard a loud crash too. "Matt?"

"I'm OK. Bloody thing knocked a table at me." She heard furniture scraping and more grunts.

"What's happening?" asked Jess.

"It's putting up a hell of a fight."

Jess stared helplessly at the old footage. "I hate being blind!"

"We're...OK," said Matt. "Right, Em?"

"I am also engaging," she said, through roars and EMD fire. "It does not stand...still." Jess heard another loud, crunching crash. "Emily!"

"I am unharmed. I must, however, give chase."

Jess nodded. She turned her attention to the others. "Abby, I've accessed the library's computers. Happily they're on another system. I see you and I can broadcast through the building."

Abby heard Jess' voice come through the library. She ordered people to calmly walk to the exits in the south of the building. Then she asked them to avoid the front exits to allow for police and emergency personnel.

"I'm glad to you hear you, Jess," she said.

Jess gave a slight giggle. "Thanks. Connor, we need to get that anomaly closed."

"Right, Jess. Can you get us wings to get to the second floor?"

"No, but I do have another door."

"Where?" asked Abby.

"According to the layout from the building specs and the camera pics from inside the library, there is a hidden door."

"Hidden?"

"Jess, are you sure?" Abby asked.

"Yep. Go all the way to the front of the library," she said.

"Great, where we saw the Deinonychus."

"It's not there right now, Connor. It's trying to get behind the counter for some reason."

Abby laughed. "Maybe it has overdue books."

"Just so it's not trying to check out a librarian," Jess said. She watched her friends cautiously move toward the front. "See that display case on the wall by the front entrance?"

"It looks permanent, Jess," Abby said.

"I bet you it isn't."

Connor shrugged and they began to push. The case moved. "Wow. Good catch, Jess."

"You are the best," Abby said.

Jess giggled. "Thank you. Now go close that anomaly. Heads up, Abby!" she cried. "The Deinonychus is done with the counter. It's coming straight at you!"

Abby spun, shooting the creature. "Thank you, Jess."

Jess sighed. "You're very welcome. OK, the library is clear, of creatures. You have a lot of students to evacuate. I see a lot of blood and...carnage. I don't know about survivors."

"Can we stay and help?" asked Connor. "How are Becker and Matt?"

Jess winced. She hadn't contacted Becker yet. "Two dinosaurs are down. Matt's helping Emily chase a third. I can't confirm it's the last in the dining area though. Stupid cameras are still down there."

"Right," said Abby. "We'll stay put."

"Copy," said Jess.

End of Chapter Seven