Terra Nova Quest

Dragonlots aka Dana Bell

Chapter 10:

Hard to believe they'd been in Terra Nova for three months, Benton reflected as he climbed the stairs to Commander Taylor's office. Pausing at the top, he stared out at the view, amazed by the jungles beauty, not to mention the potential danger lurking there. He took a deep breath and entered the room, taking in the simple walls and the glass top table sitting on a dinosaur skeleton head.

Taylor looked up at him and smiled, motioning him closer. Jim Shannon stood behind him, arms crossed over his chest, smiling. Dr. Malcolm Wallace, whose boyish face looked decidedly unhappy, tried his best to look to stern.

"You have no idea what you're bloody hell doing," Malcolm began.

"I think I do," Benton returned. He'd spent some time working in the Science Labs meeting specialists like Dr. Kelly McKay and Dr. Alona Jackson, both brilliant women and very qualified in numerous fields.

The commander sat back, wearing his normal black top with green military pants. "You sure you want to do this?"

"My family and I have discussed our plans extensively." It had been a long time since they'd been on an adventure together. The kids had already begun to pack for the trip. "We're sure."

Shannon and Taylor exchanged a look. "If you'll follow me," the second in command said, "Let's get you outfitted."

"I appreciate it. Thank you."

"You can't just let them wander off into the jungle!" Malcolm objected. "We need Dr. Quest here."

"We need teams in the field." Taylor's look brooked no arguments. "The Quests are more than qualified."

"But,"

"No, but's, Malcolm. It's settled."

The head scientist didn't look happy. He glared at Benton. "I'm going to want reports when you get back."

"I'm a good observer. Don't worry." Dr. Quest followed Shannon out and back down the stairs.

"Malcolm doesn't want you to go." The other man sounded amused.

"We explored a lot in our younger days. About time we got back to it."

"No argument out of me. Hey, Reynolds!"

A dark haired young man glanced up from his group of friends. "Be right there, Mr. Shannon."

"That the soldier dating your daughter?" Benton asked.

"Yeah." Jim grinned. "He's a good kid."

The young man trotted over, wearing his uniform and a gun easily slung over his shoulder. "Take Dr. Quest here and see what we can spare. His party is going OTG indefinitely."

"So I heard."

"We appreciate all your help." More than Benton could put into words.

"Just come back in one piece. We have no way of replacing colonists." Shannon grinned.

"Except for babies," Reynolds added.

Shannon shook his finger at the soldier. "Don't go getting any ideas."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Why did Benton sense Reynolds was teasing Shannon?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lucas pulled the blanket further over his head, trying to shield himself. The sun cut through the canopy and he finally gave up deciding to crawl under the bed. A few bugs scuttled out of the way as he settled down on the wooden planks, his eyes dropping shut.

When night fell, he sniffed the breeze, finding an odor he found familiar. Lucas traced the scent, hiding behind a bush as he watched the man, probably from Terra Nova, standing illuminated by the bright full moon.

The man pivoted, his nostrils flared and Lucas felt the red eyes bore into him. He yelped and retreated, terrified for no reason he understood.

Back in his hiding place, he stayed there through the night, afraid each noise he heard would be the red eyed demon come to claim him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"So you're heading out."

Dr. Quest put the last supply box inside the rover and faced the woman who had spoken. "We are, Laura. You're still welcome to come with us." With the hot damp weather, he felt sweat roll down his back. Good thing he'd opted for short sleeved top along with his tan pants.

"Thanks for the invite, but I don't think so." She quickly kissed his cheek, a faint blush on her cheeks. He admitted to himself she looked attractive in shorts and a purple tank top. "I've enjoyed getting to know you, Dr. Quest." She shifted her pack slightly and he wondered what she carried.

"Same," he agreed, part of him relieved she'd turned him down, another part wishing she'd join them. "You'll still be watching the herds."

"Of course. My personal mission and passion."

"I'm going to want to hear all about it when I, we, get back." He offered her a warm smile.

"Make sure you come back." She gave him a pointed look, before calling over her shoulder, "Come on, Sheba. Let's go hunting."

The big cat stood on its hind legs, it front paws resting on the rover. Bandit and saber cat bumped noses, before the dog yipped.

"You big coward," Jonny affectionately told his dog, as he picked Bandit up and put him inside the rover, shutting the door. He scratched behind the big cat's ear. "You take care of Laura okay?"

Sheba huffed and trotted over to Laura, brushing against the woman's leg.

"She will," Laura promised Jonny. "You take care of your dad."

"We take care of each other," the teen returned, an impish grin on his face. He wore his normal black top with jeans.

"Let's get rolling," Race ordered, climbing into the driver's seat. Jessie, in shorts and a blue tank top jumped in beside him.

Hadji and Jonny got into the second vehicle, Bandit sticking his head out the window. Benton crawled in behind the wheel and punched in the code. With a jerk they headed out the gate already open for early work teams left. His last look at Laura was her walking behind the rovers, the sabre cat lumbering alongside her.

"You're gonna miss her, huh?" Jonny asked.

"Very much so." Benton knew Laura liked him as much as he did her. They'd both agreed, without saying a word, to wait until he got back to see if there might be more between them.

"Red heads do not seem to your taste, Dr. Quest." Leave it to Hadji to say the obvious. Like always he wore clothes as if he still lived in India.

"Normally no. Let's make an agreement not to talk about this subject while we're gone."

Both boys nodded with a slight grin. "We promise." He figured they both had their fingers crossed so they wouldn't have to keep it.

"Good. Now, who has the notepad?"

"I do." Hadji held it up for him to see.

"Good. We need to make detailed notes about our discoveries."

"What am I supposed to do?" Jonny looked expectantly at his father.

Benton smiled. "What you do best, Jonny. Get us out of trouble."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Laura sat on the edge of the forest, watching the herds. The two she normally watched had moved to the lake, sharing the water and the trees as if were perfectly natural to do so.

"Interesting change," she murmured.

Sheba settled down in the high grass, the cat's eyes never leaving the young animals frolicking in the shallows. Her short tail twitched occasionally and a deep yearning growl vibrated in her throat.

"You have any sense you'll leave them be."

A bugle sounded and the youngsters hurried to their mothers. Laura knew the alert and anxiously watched the tree line to see what they'd sensed and she couldn't yet see.

The cat snarled, half rising, her body tense.

She barely saw the snub nose before the T Rex dashed out of hiding, grabbing one of the young brachiosaurus. It screamed, its body flailing as it got dragged back into the thick trees. The shrieks continued for a time before they stopped.

With a shiver, Laura decided she needed to return to the colony and report what had happened. If the T Rex made its way to Terra Nova, she had no idea if they'd be able to stop it.

"Come on, Sheba. Taylor needs to know about this."

With a hiss and growl, Sheba followed, turning her head back several times as if sensing something followed them.

Laura hoped not. She didn't want to be the one who brought danger to the colony.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The smell of a fresh kill brought Lucas out of hiding. He stayed in the shadow of the branches and bushes, ducking his head up to see if anything had spotted him. When he found the carcass, he used his knife and cut a hunk off before slithering back into dark.

He inhaled deeply and ate the uncooked meat, enjoying the flavor and warm feel of blood sliding down his throat. When he finished he headed back to his lair when he heard the sound of rovers.

With a grin, he watched two go past and couldn't believe his luck. One of them contained Dr. Benton Quest. Just the man he wanted to see.