Chapter 6 - Lethologica:
Author's Note:
I'm back everyone! Oh, it was awful, just awful. I won't go into detail (you all don't care) but I will say that it hurts even to type. Thank you once again everyone who has sent me a name. I think I've decided on the one I like best. Surprisingly not the one that I had come up with, it's one of yours!
XXX
Owen cracked his eyes open. He was alive. His memory was fuzzy, he didn't remember exactly what happened, but he was still alive, which was important. He was back at his bungalow… how did that happen? All he remembered was passing out in the woods, now he was laying in his bed.
Someone must have found him and moved him here. He sat up and noticed that nothing seemed to hurt anymore. His leg felt fine, his head didn't hurt, and everything was fine. He must have taken some Advil. He checked the alarm on the nightstand by his bed. 7am?
He had slept for almost twenty hours! Today was Friday. Sam… what am I going to do? Owen thought. He didn't get to confront Sam yesterday because of his accident. He bounded out of his bed. That's right, the accident! He ran out of his house, looking for his motorcycle.
He didn't remember retrieving it, so he wasn't surprised that he didn't find it. He'd have to buy a new one, he didn't even remember where he crashed. Thankfully, he still had a spare ATV behind his home that he could use. At least he would be on time for today's feeding.
He drove carefully today, not trying to break any land speed records like on his motorcycle. He would occasionally look off to the side of the road to see if there were signs of a vehicle going through the brush. There weren't any.
When he pulled into the clearing Barry approached him. Barry looked absolutely exhausted, there were dark bags underneath his eyes and he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday. "Haven't slept?" Owen asked.
Barry glared at him, "I couldn't sleep if I wanted to. We have a situation here, Owen. But I'll get to that, where were you yesterday? I was worried sick."
"I crashed my motorcycle and then I passed out by a tree. I woke up today in my bed, I have no idea how," Owen shrugged as he explained.
"Well that explains the ATV…" Barry said. He thought for a moment, "Well I thought that Raptor got you. We had a little Raptor problem here after everyone started to leave, after they realized that you weren't coming back."
Owen's eyes widened, "What! Why would she come here?"
Barry shivered, "I don't know, but I was alone. The Raptor came up to me and when I held out my hand, she touched it, as if she knew me. I ran, of course."
All Owen could say was, "Damn." Owen could never get any of the girls to touch him after they reached his hip in height. Barry was a lucky man not to be dead.
"We have another problem. The Raptor that you described to me… was not the same one that came here yesterday."
Owen furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "Really? That could be bad, there may be more rogue Raptors."
"Exactly, this one was red," Barry said, "I don't think we should worry about this now. We'll talk after their run."
Owen flinched, "Speaking of runs, how pissed are they?"
Barry shrugged and Owen sighed. Better to just get it over with. Barry watched from the ground as Owen climbed the walkway. Owen whistled loudly, calling the Raptors to him. Normally they would bark at him and line up before him.
It was something he had observed on Isla Sorna, from a safe distance of course. The alpha Raptor would call all of his pack mates to him, then he would select the most capable from the pack to go hunting with him. He would normally leave the beta behind to help protect the weakest in the pack. They would usually hunt in groups of four, and the larger the pack, the more hunting groups. Because Owen's pack only had four members, Owen really didn't have to have them present themselves before him.
But it was a way for them to bond. It showed that he was aware of pack dynamics and it would allow him to see if any of the girls were too weak to do the run. Not that they ever were. But this time, no one answered him. The paddock was silent. Owen signaled for them to go ahead and release the pig. With prey racing through their territory, the Raptors can't possibly ignore it, right?
But they did ignore it. The pig ran through the paddock and made it safely to the escape door without a single Raptor appearing. It was as if they had escaped. But Barry and the others had stayed all night, nothing entered or left the cage while they were present.
"Goddamn it," Owen muttered. He thought he had a real bond with these Raptors, but they thought otherwise. If they refused to cooperate, they'd be put down. Owen didn't want them to be killed just because they refused to follow orders, but it wasn't his decision to make. It was Hoskins', and he had no qualms with starting over. Besides, it's been over three years since the Raptors had done a perfect run. No progress has been made.
Perhaps he should just face the truth. The Raptors are no longer responding to him, he cannot train them. He has failed, maybe he should just start over. Or maybe it is just impossible. Owen shook his head, he can't just give up.
"Stay hidden, don't let them see you," a quiet voice said. Owen perked up when he heard it. It was one of the Raptors!
"Quiet!" another voice snapped, "They'll hear you." Owen was certain that this voice was Blue.
Owen smirked, he still had an ace up his sleeve. "You cannot hide forever! You'll have to eat eventually." Owen glared into the darkness where he was fairly sure Blue was hiding.
"New alpha will free us. New alpha will feed us. New alpha will protect us from you," yet another voice chanted.
"What new alpha?" Owen muttered to himself, "I am your alpha! I feed you and protect you from danger. When have I ever hurt any of you, or allowed you to be harmed?" Owen was very careful that he never lashed out at the Raptors. He didn't allow the security posted at the paddock to shoot at them if he could talk them down.
"Not us, you are not one of us. New alpha is one of us," yet another voice said. All of the Raptors have spoken. Owen sighed and wiped his hand down his face. There wasn't going to be any negotiating with them for the moment.
He was greeted by Barry and Hoskins the moment he put his feet on the ground. "That was probably the most pathetic display I've seen from this bunch yet," Hoskins said.
"Cram it, Hoskins," Owen was in no mood to deal with his shit today. Owen grabbed Barry and began walking towards their shared office. That way they could talk without Hoskins overhearing them.
But that didn't stop Hoskins from following. "You thought that shouting would've helped? Those Raptors didn't even bother to chase a pig that was in their territory. Face it, Owen, those Raptors are a lost cause. We need to start over."
Owen froze, "I refuse to give up on them, Hoskins. And I know what you mean by starting over, you're just going to put them down!" He clenched his jaw so tightly it ached.
Hoskins held up his hands defensively, "Woah, of course I mean to put them down. They are failures, if we kept them around they could influence the next batch. Plus we have nowhere else to put them."
Owen sighed, Hoskins was technically right. If they were going to make a new batch, they'd have to kill the old one. Owen thought for a minute, Hoskins continuing to stare at him. "Do you know of any other Raptors on this island other than mine?" Owen asked.
There were only two people on this island Owen could think of that would have something to do with the rogue Raptors. One was Wu, but Wu would not just let a pair of rogue Raptors roam freely, they would be contained somehow. Hoskins was the other. Owen could justify suspecting Hoskins, rogue Raptors would be an excuse to field test his own Raptors… but Hoskins hasn't pushed for a test run in over a year.
Hoskins looked genuinely confused, "I haven't authorized any Raptors to be on this island other than your own." Owen believed him, there was no reason for these Raptors to be on this island. And yet here they are.
"Listen carefully, Hoskins, there is a very good chance that there are rogue Raptors on this island. Both myself and Barry have encountered different Raptors, so there are at least two. It is probably safe to assume that there are more," Owen explained.
"When were you planning on telling me this? Is this why you asked my guys to stay at the paddock all night yesterday? You could've at least told me!"
"We just did. I would suggest stepping up security measures here at the paddock. We can't let any rogue Raptors come into contact with ours. Though I fear it may have already happened," Owen said. Both Hoskins and Barry gave him odd looks, so he explained, "There's a good chance that one of the rogue Raptors has already managed to wrest control of ours from me. That's why they didn't even respond today. Barry, you said that one of the Raptors came up to you yesterday?"
Barry nodded his head, "I left before I was attacked. You don't think…"
"I believe so. We just have to keep the Raptors from getting to ours, eventually Blue and the others will believe that they have been abandoned and may start to treat me as alpha again. Until then, we aren't feeding them, the process will go by faster if I am the only alpha that can provide for them." Owen began dragging Barry off towards his office once more.
Hoskins narrowed his eyes as he watched them go. He believed Owen and his theory about rogue Raptors interfering with training. But he had a different idea of how to regain control over Blue and the others. Alphas fight for dominance, if he can kill the rogue alpha, perhaps he could gain control over the pack. He could kick out the middle man and continue to train them for military purpose.
He had been suspecting for years now that Owen was just stalling. He knew that Owen didn't agree with him about militarized Raptors. He had figured that Owen was faking the amount of control he had over the Raptors, but there was a good chance there were rogue Raptors on the island. He'll just have to put the operation back on track.
"Are you feeling alright?" Barry asked Owen after they had reached the safety of their office. Although it was technically only Owen's office. It was small and dim. There was only a single lamp in the office and thick curtains hung over the windows. There was a single desk placed against the back wall.
Owen pulled the chair from the desk and turned it around to face Barry. Barry remained standing. "I think so, I mean, nothing hurts. Although I crashed my motorcycle, nothing seems to be broken. My leg doesn't even hurt that much anymore. And I guess you could say I'm relieved that I'm not crazy," Owen chuckled.
"Because I saw a Raptor too?"
"Yeah, basically," Owen said, scratching the back of his neck. It was quiet as Barry thought about his choice of words.
"How was the psychologist you saw? Was he any good?" Barry asked. He was suffering from lack of sleep, and he figured whoever Owen went to see could help him.
"Yeah…" Owen started. He decided against actually telling Barry about what he discovered. "He's actually the Indominus caretaker, so that didn't go over well."
Barry became determined to see that psychologist later today. The one time he had tried to doze off while patrolling the paddock, he saw the Raptor in his dreams. "Oh, that's odd. The Indominus caretaker had called earlier, I forgot to mention. He said something like 'Tell Owen to meet me at the Indominus paddock at his earliest convenience.' I didn't think anything of it," he said.
Owen gritted his teeth, the Indominus couldn't have figured out exactly what was wrong with him already… could she have? It has only been a day! If that is the case, then Owen suspected Dr. Freeman of interfering. He had no reason not to go and see what they wanted, especially if he wanted answers. He doubted that he could've taken them from Wu. "Well, I guess I'm off then. Are you coming too?"
"I think I'll stay here and make sure the paddock is still safe," Barry said. He would go and see the Indominus caretaker tonight, without Owen. This was something he wanted only the psychologist to know about.
XXX
I must be crazy, Owen thought as he ascended the viewing room stairs once again. He stopped before entering the room. What if they feed me a lie? He had no way of knowing if they would even tell him the truth. The Indominus seemed desperate to receive a name, and Dr. Freeman was crafty enough to make up a believable lie.
Owen figured that he would refuse to grant the Indominus a name until he heard their story corroborated. That would force them to admit that they had no proof. Owen could have a plausible answer and he wouldn't have to give the Indominus a name.
He entered the viewing room smirking, thinking he had won. What he didn't expect was the Indominus standing with her face pressed up against the glass. And Dr. Freeman sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest. Both had their eyes closed.
Suddenly, the Indominus' eyes popped open and she said, "Rook e8."
The good doctor tutted quietly and said, "Queen take Rook e8." She snarled at him, prompting him to respond with, "Hey, it's just a game." They were playing chess.
"I know that, it just seems like I never have a chance in the first place. Rook takes e8." She sighed when he captured once again on e8.
"The problem isn't that I'm too good, it's that you aren't thinking enough out of the box. I'm just glad you're still willing to play despite our score being 15-0. Check, by the way. Not many continue playing me after they realize that they probably wouldn't win."
She hissed and said, "I am thinking outside of the box. I feel as if you're just tricking me, I should stay with the basics and maybe I can beat you in a position you're unfamiliar with. Knight f8."
"That might be your only option. Rook a8. But you have to remember, I know all of the positions on the chess board."
"Sometimes I think you're just using mind games against me. Pawn h6," she was clearly losing hope.
"Perhaps I am, it's a good strategy, you know. Maybe I'm not really any good at chess, I'm just making you think I am. Rook e8."
"See, that's the kind of bullshit I'm talking about. I know that you're good at chess, you're just distracting me! King h7."
"Come on my dear, you can do better than that. Bishop e4, check."
The Indominus lowered her head, "I know… King h8."
Gordon furrowed his brows, "You're just giving up? You had another ten moves in you before you lost. Rook take f8, checkmate." The Indominus let out a growl that turned into a sigh. She looked up and saw Owen. Owen had just been standing there, observing the two play chess.
The Indominus let out a happy bark that had no real meaning before saying, "Owen is here! I can get a name!"
Dr. Freeman gathered the chess board and pieces and stowed them away at this desk. He cracked his back, "She's been waiting for a whole day. As you probably know already, she's found you your answer."
"She does seem very excited. Alright, let's hear it. Go ahead and tell me what I want to know," Owen demanded. The Indominus then spouted out everything that she had heard from the good doctor. She explained how Wu gave him a disease and how he was now a wereraptor, how the process went wrong somewhere, and why his memories were so blurry.
"I'm a wereraptor? That's some story you got there," Owen seethed. He shrugged his shoulders, "I just refuse to believe that though, I'll need Dr. Wu to confirm your story for me. Then I'll give you a name."
He turned to leave the viewing room, he had an answer, as unbelievable as it was. The Indominus let out a loud roar, interrupting him while he was leaving. "How dare you lie to me! I gave you what you wanted, now give me a name!" She began to curse at him, calling him every foul name she could think of.
Gordon glared at him, "That's a low blow, Grady. But, I am happy to say that I have already prepared for you to do something like this." He waved his hand, silencing the Indominus, though she continued to fume. He pulled out of his pocket a tape recorder. Owen's eyes widened and doom set into his stomach.
"Wereraptor, that's not how I would've described it… but it'll have to do. I… took pieces of his DNA and his Raptor's DNA, and yes, even the DNA of the Indominus and designed a disease that would turn him into a Raptor," Gordon flicked the tape off violently. He had been well prepared for this eventuality.
The Indominus began to suck in air. She hitched her breath so the air came out in short bursts, she was laughing at him! "Now, give me a name I can call my own!" she demanded.
Owen stood ramrod straight, "No. I will not give a monster such as yourself a name. You're just a beast that deserves no name." He glared at her.
"I understand why you think me a demon… but even demons have names. Human… please, name me!" Her crimson eyes were pleading. Her pupils expanded to the point where she looked like a begging cat. If you ignored the fact that she was fifty feet long and had a maw full of deadly razor sharp teeth.
Dr. Freeman looked at Owen, his violet eyes full of something Owen could not identify. But it was almost hypnotic. "She needs a name if she is going to make a recovery. You of all people should want her to make a recovery."
Owen finally broke down, "I would be lying if I didn't think up a few names. I guess calling you the Indominus gets tiring after a while, and it is cruel for you to be nameless." Owen took a deep breath and approached the glass of the room. He stood before her, no longer afraid, "I will call you Saber."
Her eyes brightened immediately, all of her anger was forgotten. She mulled over the name, tasting it on the tip of her tongue. Owen could hear her say it aloud several times, testing how it sounded to her, "Saber… Saber… Saber… I like it. It sounds sharp and deadly, like me. Thank you… Owen."
She called him by his name. Owen smiled a real smile. She was so excited about being named. She thought of the little girl who had wanted to name her, she wondered if the little girl would like her name. She hoped so. "Well, what do you plan on doing now?" Gordon asked Owen.
"I have a date tonight, I am going to confront one of the conspirators there… uh, where should I take a girl on a date?" The last date Owen had went on was with Claire. She had decided on everything, down to the very place they would be going. Owen didn't spend much time at the main park, so he didn't really know what was any good.
"I would suggest that you take her somewhere crowded. That will keep you two from making a scene, hopefully. I would recommend the steakhouse, it's very good, or so I hear," Gordon explained.
Owen nodded in thanks and proceeded out of the door, before Gordon said something else, "And I would not recommend wearing board shorts!" Owen smirked and thanked him again. He didn't think that Gordon knew of his disaster date with Claire, not having been on the island at the time. The gossip had died down after a few years, so he wasn't sure how the good doctor knew. He didn't dote on it, though. He pulled out his phone to call Sam, and thought of how he wanted to confront her.
Gordon watched as Owen left. He was just happy Saber got her name. The Indominus was so giddy she asked for another game of chess, claiming that she was feeling 'lucky.' Gordon obliged her with a soft smirk on his face. Gordon thought about the name. Not only was Saber sharp and dangerous, it was elegant and precise. A sword was a perfect fit for the Indominus. Saber was so enamored with her own name that she wasn't even upset that she was losing again.
XXX
I decided to end the chapter on a lighter note, and save Owen and Sam's date for next chapter. Not that I am telling you that something is going to go wrong… but anyways, what do you all think? Yes, the good doctor has taught the Indominus to play chess, though she isn't very good yet. I would like to thank dracologistmaster for the name Saber. I was thinking of something more demonic, to really characterize Owen's dislike of the Indominus, but I think Saber is something easy and simple to remember. And it describes the Indominus perfectly (I think). Let me know what you think, and thank you again everyone who sent me a name!
