Emily was climbing up the rope. She'd managed to climb a third of the way out of the trailer. Matt had started climbing behind, leaving Becker to wait. Suddenly the trailer shuddered loudly and slipped from the edge. Becker quickly tightened his grip and held onto the rope. The trailer fell around them fast. The rope fell against the cliff face, sending them against the cliff. The trailers plummeted hundreds of feet to the ground below. The trailers erupted into a massive fireball, quickly extinguished by the ocean.
Emily held onto the rope and used the cliff face to climb. She bit her lip, concentrating on holding the now wet rope. She groaned as she heaved herself up the cliff side. She grabbed the edge of the cliff and heaved herself up. Her head rose over the edge. A hand came down to her. Emily looked up at the person and took the hand.
Wilder lifted her up from the edge. Emily moved from the edge for a moment. She turned back and helped Matt over the edge. She looked back at the flatland. Wilder's entire team was joined around the area. Wilder heaved Becker over the edge, joining the others. Becker leaned over the ground, breathing heavily. He looked up, glaring at Wilder. Wilder looked down at him, sharing the same distain.
"Becker!"
Becker turned from Wilder. Jess was running toward him. She dropped into the mud in front of him and wrapped her arms around him. Becker exhaled deeply. He wrapped his arms around her small figure, holding her close.
"Where's Tom?" Becker asked.
Jess pulled back. She frowned. "He didn't come back?"
Jess' words hit him hard. She didn't know what had happened to him. She hadn't seen anything. Neither had he, but he could put together what had happened to him. Becker pulled Jess close to him again. If only for another second longer, they were safe.
The rain had stopped pouring down on them. Becker, Connor, Matt, Emily, and Jess stood together. Wilder and his team surrounded them, searching through the debris of the trailers. Matt's arm was wrapped around Emily's shoulder, holding her close. Becker wore his old coat, given to him by Jess. Jess stood beside him. Her arms were folded across her chest, keeping herself warm. Connor was standing behind her.
Wilder was walking around the campsite. "Our communication equipment's been destroyed. And unless your radio and satellite phone were in the trailers-"
"They were." Becker answered.
Wilder sighed. "Then we're stuck here. Stuck together, thanks to you people."
"We came here to document. You came to pillage." Emily said.
One of Wilder's men walked around them, eying Emily.
Matt caught the man's actions. "Back away."
The man's brows rose, feigning fear.
"Ross." Wilder said.
Ross turned and walked way.
"Our expedition is none of your concern, though with the trespassing and sabotage activities, you can expect to hear from my attorneys." Burton explained.
"This island is the property of the ARC, which is neither in your control, nor will it ever be. If anyone is trespassing here, it's you." Jess snapped.
Burton eyed Jess over. "Ever the optimist, Jessica. But rest assured. Change is coming."
Jess smirked. "Don't be so sure. What's the public going to say once they've seen Prospero's treatment of these animals?"
Burton walked up to Jess. Jess lowered her arms, unafraid. "Where's the footage?"
"In Lester's hands. And the ARC's attorneys will be ready for you and your men the second you land." Jess explained.
Burton snorted. "Ever the wild story teller, Jessica. Just like your friends here."
"Is that how to deal with losing, Phillip?" Becker asked. He stepped between Jess and Burton. "Destroy all sense of credibility? Turn them into liars, just to keep yourself in the public's good graces?"
"It worked for you, didn't Becker?" Christine asked.
A fist flew fast through the air, slamming into Christine's jaw. Christine back peddled from Burton's side, stumbling in the mud. For a second, no one moved. Christine held her jaw, slowly looking up. Jess was standing by Becker's side, exhaling deeply. Her right hand was clenched into a tight fist.
"You little bitch!" Christine snapped. She jumped onto her feet and charged Jess.
Jess moved toward Christine, but Becker wrapped his arm around Jess' waist and pulled her behind him. Jess struggled in Becker's grasp, trying to go back for Christine. Matt and Connor stepped between Christine and Becker. Wilder and another man grabbed Christine.
"Back off Jess." Becker said.
"Enough!" Wilder ordered. He pulled Christine back.
"Knock it off!" Emily snapped. She moved between the warring parties. "Listen, by moving the baby Rex into our camp, it's a possibility we've changed the adults territory pattern."
"Their what?" Burton asked.
"It's why they came back and destroyed the trailers." Matt answered.
"They now feel the need to protect this area." Emily continued. "So we have to move right now before they decide to come back."
"Move where? The boat? Our airlift? Either way they're waiting for a call which we can't make." Christine replied.
Jess turned toward the group. "That's not…entirely true."
Christine eyes Jess closely. "Excuse me?"
Jess shook her head and stepped out of Becker's reach,
"Jess is right." Burton said. "There's a radio tower in the old ARC compound."
"How's is still running?" Connor asked.
"Thermal power. That way it never needs replenishing." Jess explained.
"Where is it?" Wilder asked.
Burton reached into his bag and pulled out a map. "Several miles inland. A few days hike from here. But that's not our problem."
"And what is?" Wilder asked.
"Velociraptor's." Burton stated.
Connor's jaw dropped. He turned around from the group. "You've got to be kidding me."
Emily winced and lowered her head. Matt lightly squeezed her shoulder.
"The inferred satellite images located the compound perimeter as their prime nesting grounds." Jess explained. "Getting to compound will be hard enough, but getting in is another problem entirely."
"Wait, what's a Veloci-"
"Velociraptor." Emily corrected. "Carnivores, pack hunters. Two meter's tall, medium length snout, incredible vision in day and night, and massive claws slashing claws on feet and hands. Not to mention the Rex's may continue to track us if they view us as a threat."
"Well this is all very exciting but I think we should press on." Burton said.
Wilder turned to Becker. "What weapons do you have?"
Becker turned to the others. "One EMD rifle and two pistols."
"It'll have to do." Wilder said. "And seeing as the Rex just fed we won't stalk us for food."
"Just fed? I 'm assuming you're talking about Tom. You might want to show a little respect he saved our lives by giving his!" Becker snapped.
"Then his troubles are over. "Christine replied. "Everyone knows that predators don't hunt when they're not hungry."
"Saddle up! Let's move out!" Wilder ordered.
Becker briefly looked to Matt. Matt shared the exasperated look and started walking with the group. Becker turned to Jess. He nodded slowly and walked toward him. Becker slung the EMD rifle around his shoulder and walked with Jess. If the animals didn't kill them, it was a good chance that Wilder's team would.
and we're off to see...we'll...anybut but the raptors eeek.
