Solutions: Chapter 9: They're headed for where?

"Everyone accounted for?" Taylor asked Wash. He took off his gloves and tossed them on top of glass covering his dinosaur head table.

"Except Laura Collins and her cousin Barnabas. They're OTG overnight." She stood before the table, waiting for his response.

"Those Collins have a mind of their own." The commander shook his head. "Give any idea when they'll be back tomorrow?"

"No sir. Said they were going to teach her cat to hunt."

He shook his head and sat down indicating his second in command should do the same. "Let's hope they get back before or if anything happens tomorrow. Otherwise, they might be stuck OTG indefinitely."

Wash smiled. "I suspect Laura can handle herself."

"Of that I have no doubt. Her cousin though, with his sun allergy I'm not too sure about."

"He looked pretty well covered when they left."

"No idea why he came here and didn't stay in 2149."

Wash didn't answer. He didn't expect her to.

"How's the chow tonight?" he asked.

"Not bad," Wash answered. "Some sort of barbeque."

"Sounds good. Hungry?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. After we eat I suggest a good night's sleep. I suspect we'll need it."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Kara stood nervously with the other pilgrims, waiting for the gate to open and to start her new life in Terra Nova. She had no idea how Josh had managed it and was looking forward to seeing to her boyfriend again.

She noticed the well-dress man with a little girl being pulled to the side. Hopefully, they wouldn't be delayed long. They disappeared and she felt a pang for them. It would be awful to come this far only to be told you couldn't go.

Shifting from one foot to the other, she looked around at the others. Several families stood together, each member carrying a pack. A few singles, probably specialists, shaking hands, greeting each other and smiling.

A man pushed through to stand near her, his coat tightly pulled around him. His eyes darted around, as if trying to discover if anyone had noticed him. Quickly she looked down, pretending to be interested in the iron laced ramp, yet still keeping an eye on him.

Loud noise started and Kara smiled, her excitement mounting. The portal had opened. In a few minutes, she'd see Josh again.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Allen and Sienna had been led to a large back area. Soldiers stood at ease either talking to each other or checking their weapons. Expectancy hovered in the air and Allen swallowed, well aware of what these men intended to do.

"Quite a sight." The dark haired man smiled. "I'm Weaver."

The name sounded familiar. If his admin had been there, he would have asked her to look the name up. He hoped with the money he'd left her, she'd live a comfortable life for as long the as the planet could support humans.

"Obviously, you know who I am," he answered.

"Of course. Lucas!" He waved a younger man over. "Lucas, say hello to Allen Collins. Mr. Collins this is Lucas Taylor."

"You're the one my employers want protected, despite not approving of their plans." Lucas's tone was condescending. He had a scar on his neck and wore slightly dirty clothing.

"What are they planning?" he demanded. If he remembered correctly, Lucas was Commander Taylor's son.

"Oh," Weaver grinned. "We're all going to very, very rich."

"That isn't what Terra Nova is about," Allen growled.

Lucas laughed at him. "It's always been what Terra Nova has been about. People like you are just too stupid to realize it."

Allen focused his gaze on the younger man. "I think it is you who is foolish. To turn humanity's second chance into a disgraceful display of what brought this world to its demise."

"Says one of the richest men on the planet," Lucas mocked.

"I may be rich, but I have shared my wealth with servants, employees and the villagers of Collinsport. Can you say the same?"

Lucas sneered at him, turning his attention to Weaver. "We're almost ready."

Alarms sounded. A voice instructed, "Please stay calm. There has been a containment breach. Medics are outside waiting to assist you. Follow the exit signs." It repeated the same message several times.

"As you can see," Lucas told him. "We had this well planned."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hope Plaza sounded empty as Allen and Sienna joined the soldiers on the ramp. The portal blazed open and they followed the group out into bright sunshine. Sienna gasped and Allen picked her up, taking care to shield her from the light.

"You're hostages," Weaver explained walking next to them. "We want the rest of your family to behave."

"From what I understand," Allen argued back, "my family holds no power in Terra Nova."

"Just my father." Lucas's face showed his contempt. "I can't wait to defeat him."

"When will I see mommy?" Sienna asked quietly in Allen's ear.

"I don't know. Soon I hope."

"Careful with that!" Lucas yelled. "Without the Terminus we won't be able to ship anything and we'll be stuck here."

Allen turned in time to see several large brownish dinosaurs charge at them out of the huge tall trees. Soldiers fired their guns trying to stop the creatures. Sienna covered her ears and Allen turned so she couldn't see the carnage behind them. He ducked behind a boulder, hoping it would protect them. Men screamed and he heard the crunching of bones.

"Dear God," he whispered, wishing he dared release his daughter and cover his ears as well.

The battle seemed to take forever until the screeching dinosaurs were driven off.

"What were those?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Carnosaurs," Lucas explained. A string of curses followed.

"I'll thank you not to talk that way around my daughter." He rose slowly from cover, watching for further predators.

A few more choice cusses at him and Lucas walked away to inspect the damage. "They broke the Terminus!"

Weaver answered. "Can it be repaired?"

"Hopefully, when we reach Terra Nova."

The two paired up to rearrange how the device would be carried. Blood and bits of flesh littered the ground.

Allen diverted his daughter's attention from the horrible bloody site. He pointed at a large yellow and orange butterfly swooping down. She clapped her hands and reached for it.

A furred body bounced up and landed on four feet in front of them. It shook its head and yowled.

One of the soldiers pointed a weapon at it, only to be knocked to ground by a black blur. Several others flew upward and Weaver screamed as he landed on his butt. Lucas Taylor got thrown back several feet.

The figure grabbed Allen, who barely had time to snag Sienna before they were both practically carried into the thick woods. He heard shouting behind him and a few bullets hit the trees.

"Now that was a stupid waste of ammunition." He knew the woman's voice.

Allen glanced up and saw Laura standing there. Behind her a huge dinosaur plucked some leaves and swallowed them.

"This is Bola." She patted the faintly splotched creature. "Thanks, Barnabas."

"Family is the most important treasure we have."

"That was you?" Allen couldn't believe it. "I thought you never went out during the day."

"We've been hunting," his cousin explained.

"Hunting?"

The furred animal he'd seen before appeared out of the grass and rubbed against Laura's leg. She rubbed behind its ears. "This is Sheba."

"I see." He didn't really.

"Where are they headed?" Laura asked.

"The colony."

"Taylor needs to know." She climbed up a tree and onto the dinosaur's back. Barnabas handed up Sheba and motioned for Allen to join him. Uneasily he handed Sienna to his cousin. Laura settled the child before her. The two men ended up sitting behind them. "Bola, Terra Nova."

Bola pulled down another branch and munched, belching when he finished.

"Now, that you've had a snack, can we go please?"