Chapter 9: Dancing with Raptors
Aurora and Owen spent the next three days preparing the Raptor Squad for their first public showing.
Simon Masrani had Aurora and the raptors perform random things, such as following Aurora around, commanding them to go in circles, and even making them do their signature sounds, such as the screeching and screaming.
The place where the showing would take place was in an open air arena with a dirt covered stage and surrounded by glass panels that were 6 feet high.
Aurora and Owen did not like the height of the glass panels as they were short enough for the raptors to jump out. "We've installed protective walls that will shot up if one of them tries to escape," Masrani said, but Aurora and Owen did not like the sound of that. "Plus we'll have shooters in the back with tranquilizers ready," he adds.
Aurora knew that if any of the raptors were shot, even with a tranquilizer, they would probably never forgive her and never trust her, again.
On the night before the showing, Aurora show the raptors the arena and tests them with the sounds of an audience. There were sounds of children screaming and crying, people clapping and cheering, and even laughter. There were also flashes from iPhone cameras, but the raptors, especially Blue did not like that.
"We'll have an announcer say that flash photography is strictly prohibited," Masrani said when he sees the raptors look around the seats while they snarl.
"Yes, but people don't always follow the rules," Owen warns and both he and Aurora decides to test the raptors with the flashes, again. Blue was irritated with the flashes, but Aurora makes up a hand gesture that would inform her to keep calm.
Aurora does the routine a few more times until Blue and the others were used to it. By the time they were finished, it was close to dawn, and the five of them were exhausted.
Aurora had the raptors take their rest in their pens and she sleeps outside with Owen on the hard ground. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but it was better then nothing.
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(Blue's POV)
The beta raptor speaks to her pack mates with chirps and snorts. 'You are to obey Aurora, otherwise I'll take a nip at you.'
'I am definitely not going to like this,' Echo replies.
'Me either,' Delta chirps and the four of them try to sleep some more.
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In the dark arena, a mysterious figure in black was waiting for someone to come. He was getting irritated as it was getting close to dawn.
Then, a man with black hair and mustache arrives. "Sorry sir, I had to avoid being caught by security," the man said.
"Good thing they didn't catch you," the figure replies and opens up a gun case. In it was a tranquilizer gun and the figure asks, "You said you know how to use these?"
"Yeah, my previous job was to tranquilize zoo animals," the man replies and the black figure nods.
"I want you to be over there during the show," the figure orders, pointing to a set of tall trees that provided good cover. The figure then hands over some darts.
"Be careful with these," the figure warns, "They have PCP in them."
"PCP? Hallucinate drugs?" the man asks and the figure nods.
"They'll make the raptors go crazy, but I want you to shot at this particular one," the figure informs him and shows him an image of Blue, the beta-raptor.
The figure wanted the man he hired to shot the PCP dart at Blue, so that she would turn on Aurora and kill her. Therefore, the girl would be eliminated, and the four raptors would be destroyed a while later.
"I'll pay you extra if you do it earlier in the show," the figure said to the man. The man stays by the trees with the dart gun and the darts, while the figure goes off into the morning light.
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The big day arrived for the new raptor show. It was named 'Dancing with Raptors' as Masrani saw Aurora with them and she sort of made them dance.
Aurora had to wear a Jurassic World uniform and places her hair up in a bun. She goes into a small room and prays a little, begging to God that the showing would go well and that none of the raptors would turn on her.
She then goes to the raptors, they were kept in cages before the show. Aurora goes up to Blue and pats the raptor's cheek.
"Do you think we'll pull through with this?" she asks Blue and the raptor chirps.
Meanwhile, Owen had rounded up some patrolmen who would check the entire premises for anyone suspicious. Barry volunteered to check around, too.
"If anyone appears to do any harm to Aurora or the raptors, take them down," Owen orders the men and they went to their positions.
Owen then goes to check on Aurora, who was alone with the raptors. "This is it, you ready?" he asks.
"No, I'm terrified," she answers.
"So am I," he said and pulls her into a hug. "It's going to be okay, you'll see," he adds.
They went to check on the audience, the arena was packed full with families with children and teenagers. Aurora felt like throwing up as her heart pounds so hard.
"5 minutes," Owen said, "Don't worry, I have men doing patrol around the arena. Barry's looking around, too. If anyone is acting suspicious, they'll be taken out."
"Alright," Aurora replies, uneasily.
Owen checks on the audience and he sees Dr. Lewis with Masrani. He curses as he was hoping that Lewis might be away and do something to ruin the performance.
Then it was time for the show to start and Aurora takes a deep breath as the announcer begins to speak. The announcer informs the audience that flash photography was strictly prohibited as it would ensure the safety of the raptors and their trainer.
Aurora knew the audience would not listen and then it was her cue. She runs out to the stage with a big smile on her face and the audience cheers.
"Welcome everyone," she said into her microphone. "Who is ready to meet the raptors?" she asks and the children exclaim that they were ready.
A staff member releases Blue from her cage and she comes up to Aurora as commanded. The audience gasp as they see the enormous animal.
"This is Blue, can you give a bow Blue?" she asks the raptor and she obeys and lowers her head to the audience. The audience cheers and Blue was awarded with a piece of chicken.
Then, Delta, Echo, and Charlie come up and Aurora commands them to stand side by side. Aurora also commands them to bow and they obey and were awarded with chicken.
The patrolmen were checking the premises for anyone suspicious, even Barry looks around.
"These are Blue's pack mates," Aurora said to the audience, "This is Delta, Blue's second in command," she said and Delta gives a snort. "Here's Echo," Aurora said and Echo displays her teeth. "And last, but not least, Charlie."
The audience oohs and awes at the raptors. Aurora then commands the three raptors to line up behind Blue and they obey. She then has them make a circle, their tails touching, and Aurora awards them.
Behind the trees, the man prepares the dart gun, and inserts a dart in it.
Aurora explains to the audience the intelligence of Velociraptors and of their strength and speed. It was then time for the comedy part.
"Blue, let me see your teeth," Aurora said, but the raptor shakes her head. The audience giggles as Aurora gives her a look. "And why not?" she asks. Blue stares down at the bucket of chicken parts.
"Oh alright," Aurora said and shows Blue a chicken leg. The raptor then opens her mouth wide, showing her teeth to the audience, who were awed at the sight of white dentures. Aurora feeds the leg to Blue. The raptor then gives her signature screech and most of the children begins to cry.
After a few laughs, Aurora had the raptors follow her, almost like a dance.
The shooter could not get a good visual as Blue kept moving about or someone in the audience moves into his sight. He decides to climb up the tree and shoot from there.
The audience claps as Aurora and the raptors finish with their dance. "You know, this is tiring, are you girls tired?" Aurora asks and yawns. The raptors copy her and yawn, causing the audience to laugh.
Barry notices someone in the tree and has some men go check it out with him. To his horror, it was a shooter with a tranquilizer gun, and Barry grabs his foot and drags him down.
There was a scuffle, but the shooter was detained and taken out of the arena. Blue seemed to notice what was going on, but Aurora commands her to remain clam and the raptor obeys.
"Well ladies, it's time to call it a day," Aurora said and the audience groans, disappointed that the show was ending. The raptors give snorts, but they were grateful that the show was almost over.
"Can I get some goodnight kisses?" Aurora asks the four raptors. They shake their heads, so Aurora gives them kisses on their noses first and then they lick her. They give one last bow to the audience and the people cheer as the five of them leave the stage.
The raptors go into their cages, but Aurora gives them whole chickens as a reward for being so good. "Good girls!" she exclaims and they enjoy their rewards.
Owen comes backstage and Aurora hugs him. "You were incredible," he comments, but then Barry arrives with the shooter.
"We caught him with these," Barry said, showing the dart gun and the darts.
"He's Alister McGregory," Barry adds and Aurora looks at the man. He was a bit shorter then Owen, but he did have muscle.
"Take him out of here," Owen orders and they take Alister away.
Then, Masrani and Lewis arrive with excited faces, but Aurora knew that Dr. Lewis was angry. "You did it Miss Aurora! Congratulations!" Masrani exclaims, "But especially your raptors!"
Aurora decides to tell him that this show was not a good idea, "Mr. Masrani, I advise you to put this show to a permanent end."
"What? Don't be ridiculous, the audience loved you!" he replies.
"I advise you to do it for the good of these raptors," Aurora insists.
"I'll double your payment," Masrani said, but Aurora shakes her head.
"You can double or triple, but it will not make me to do it, again," she replies and Owen has the two men leave the backstage.
"Aurora, you're doing the right thing, the raptors did not like it one bit," Owen said and they loaded the raptors into cages on trucks and they head back to the paddock.
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Dr. Lewis sits at his chair in his office, he was thinking. He had to figure out a way to get rid of Aurora and Blue and he had to do it fast, or his superiors will cut off his payload.
He kept on thinking and thinking.
From the author: What do you think? I thought the showing was okay, but I want to hear from you! I adore my readers! Stay tuned for more!