The convoy of jeeps kicked up a stir of dust as they traveled up the desert road. There was no other sound in the air except for the radio as they reached the plateau, entering the valley through a pass barely noticeable. The road was winding although the expanse was unobstructed, and there was a general ambience about it that was somehow untamed. Although the hand of man could still very much be seen, it just was better hidden then before. There was a thin line of shrubs across the valley floor, it was seen as they lined the road. The only markings really, but it was just enough to be noticeable. The jeeps were singleminded in their trajectory, leaving the low hills behind.
Ahead, the sun was rising at the opposite end of the valley, and thus a massive structure could be seen. It was nearly comparable to the walls of Troy, but unlike there being a thousand ships, there was only desert that it faced not the ocean. The structure had no outward features, but spread in all directions, covering nearly the width of the entire valley, some miles across. It was an imposing structure, the light catching it faintly, and it's flying buttresses struck against the sunlight. At least fifty feet tall, the iron and tempered steel shone against the sunlight, greeting the arriving jeeps. It did not stand alone however, and there was a row of concentric cyclone fences around it, each ring spaced apart.
The jeeps were nearing the first fence, on which could be seen a guard tower of sorts. The window of the jeep rolled down, and a man leaned out, showing his identification to the guard. "Code is five, zero nine." He said, as he lifted his hat so that the guard would be able to see his face. The guard nodded, checking something off and doing a scan of the badge. He nodded with him, giving him a pass for the next guard tower. The driver gave him a nod and continued down the path, following the gate as he traveled towards the next checkpoint. There were about two or three more checkpoints to pass, but after the third, his jeep and the rest broke free of the last fence. Just beyond the final fence, there was an open area, with delineated spaces for parking.
The doors opened and the men walked out of the three jeeps. They were a steely lot, four or five in total. Two men per jeep with only one in the last. Roland Roland Tembo adjusted his hat as he walked out of his jeep, and looked out. There was an obtrusion in the wall he could see, there seemed to be a separate building connected to the main structure through a glass walkway. He and his associates took several briefcases out of their jeeps, and headed towards the structure. As they entered the interior of the structure, they were greeted not by security, but by a man in a dark suit standing there as he had expected them. He directed the others to lay down their briefcases, and the other four did so. But Tembo still held on to his, staring the man in the eye.
"When I heard your offer Mr. Rossiter, Naturally I was intrigued…but I will be maintaining hold of my own weapon for the time being," he said calmly. The security men took the briefcases away to a back room, but did not obstruct him. However Tembo was impatient now, because he had gone through Rossiter's little game to get here. The structure was impressive, he would grant the other man that, but there was something that might be lacking a bit. Maybe it was character; he didn't know exactly what it might be. But there was something in the substance. But if this man's promises rang true, he thought it could potentially be something that would prove to lead to the biggest trophy in his life.
"You'll get your weapons back after our staff does a thorough inspection, make sure they are up to the standards of the park," Rossiter announced to the group. "As for you Mr. Tembo, your reputation precedes you to the point where I don't have to have your items checked out. Although I am certain that you will only have to wait a short while to begin. As for when your safari will start, we are still getting prepared. I must say though that you have the honor of being the first guests ever to visit." He took a step as he instructed them to follow through the narrow hall, which widened as they passed by some doors. Most of which appeared to be simple security doors, but others storage areas.
Eventually it widened out into a hallway that met the hall at a T-intersection, and continued in both directions. But there was sign roping off one side though, with another directing visitors to head left. As they did, there was a subtle shift in tone and direction. A mural lined part of the wall, showing lush jungle foliage, expansive grassland, and a rocky slope. There seemed to be a concerted effort to showcase each part, and next to the murals were legends on the top saying 'Zone 1, Zone 2, and so on. After the murals there were computer displays showing each of the empty zones, and interactive maps of each of them. It was intended no doubt, for a person to peruse should they be interested in investigating each zone before they entered.
But Tembo paid it no attention, and neither did his companions. They operated on knowing what the area was, but letting the exact and precise geography be a surprise to themselves. This way the animal could go it's own way, and there would still be the thrill of tracking something wounded, of bringing it to bay. Indeed, that was part of the thrill of the hunt, what made it such an exhilarating thing to witness indeed. But if what Rossiter had presented him was an example of what he had to offer and not merely a deformed lizard, then this was something. But Rossiter still had a lot to prove, he thought as he walked through the hall, he and his companions observing the displays on both sides idly.
It was clear that this side went on for some while, and they passed by several other displays as they walked. It was similar in construction to the ones that they had already passed, but also closely emphasizing different parts and aspects of the areas that they were representing. Tembo mused that this was an interesting setup that was for damn sure, and could very well be practically utilized in an interesting fashion if done right. Then the hall seemed to widen again and there as a bona fide exhibit. He was amused as he saw what appeared to be a large fossil on display with a caption-"what destroyed the dinosaurs-seeing the fallen giants". So they really were serious about this were they. He was more then a bit amused now.
So they did have the balls to claim they could deliver. More then a lot of people really. He looked up and Rossiter was slowing, as the man began being flanked by security officers who had come from a side door. Tembo made the mental note that there was a parallel hallway concurrent to the one they were currently walking down. That might be useful later. As for now, he could see that they were being led to a area where there was light coming in from the wall, and he turned to look. It seemed that there was a window-wall just to the right, and it stretched for about a hundred or so meters. There were sensors at the top and bottom and a thin rail that was up against it. A sign on the side said 'Viewing sample station 1-Zone 4," and Tembo frowned. A preview? He felt a vague sense of unease.
"You'll get your guns back in a while gentlemen," Rossiter was saying as he directed their attention to outside. They could all see what appeared to be a grassy plain, with a few shrubs and trees in the far distance. There was a silence as the men spread out, seeing nothing yet. "I promise you gentlemen… in a few seconds you will have the proof that you desire," He said, as he sat down in a chair besides the viewing portal. Tembo crossed his arms in skepticism, really wondering if this was going to be as good as Rossiter was promising. After all, he had gone into Mexico for the sake of hunting something which would be a unique prize, but everything so far was putting him off. Truth was, whether Rossiter was telling the truth would be the least of his worries. He was wondering right now if it might actually be worse if he was.
But a nagging voice told him that he had to compromise here. After all, where else would he get this sort of opportunity? He had hunted every trophy animal on this planet, and was very much desirous of a hunt that would challenge him. No, that was the wrong descriptor. He needed a challenge, to keep him aware and able to perform to his fullest capability. Without it, he would not even be able to begin to attempt to figure out how to fully exist. But there was something. "Gentlemen," Rossiter was apparently studying a handheld monitor, and Tembo took a glance. There were several infrared signatures but he couldn't make out what they were or were supposed to be. It was clear they would find out soon enough. "I believe you will see soon that we do not exaggerate on our promises," he said.
We'll see about that, Tembo thought privately, but kept his face impassive for now. But then he let a expression of surprise flicker across his face, as something came into his field of vision. At first he thought it was a blur, but it was too large for that. Because it was slightly taller then a man, but about the length of a school bus. It was darkish green and bipedal, lumbering through the grass past them. It looked almost lizard-like in the pebbled texture of its skin;he could see that, and the large head contrasted with the size of it's neck. It looked at him, and stared for a few seconds before turning away, leaning down to graze on some grasses through it's beak-like mouth. "Hadrosaurus Foukii" a voice was recorded through and overhead speaker. "It's name means sturdy lizard, and was a herbivore from the late Cretaceous Period."
"You did it, you son of a bitch," Tembo muttered under his breath. He had his doubts even after seeing the lizard-thing but now there could be nothing but clear and utter certainty. The others were dumbstruck, he had not told them what to expect, only that it was surely worth their time. And as they could all see, there was a high probability it would be. As he continued watching, his active predator's mind seeking already possibilities where it's heart would be, the vital functions, he noticed other animals approaching. There were about three or four more, and they bellowed, sounded quite nasally as they did so in their approach. "You made living breathing specimens… how did you do this?" He asked, turning to face Rossiter.
Upon which Rossiter only smiled, and turned to look at the animals, all now grazing in a semicircle. It occurred to Tembo vaguely that this was only one zone of at least five… But then Rossiter was tugging at his shoulder, telling him to go a particular direction. "I'll show you," he said with a smile as he led them further.
"Did you see all of that?" Muldoon was asking as he turned to face Finn. He had his Weatherby out, it only had two rounds in it as he was mainly using it for the scope. But it was an expensive one, which he could use right now to see things at a far enough range that most could not. Which was why he and Finn were on top of the nearby hill, staring down at the large structure. They had witnessed the jeeps arriving, as well as the men entering the building. It was all interesting, as from his vantage point, Muldoon could see that the structure encompassed nearly all of the visible valley as he could see. Maybe a couple miles in diameter. But he still couldn't see a damn thing over the walls, that was what was blocking his vision.
Finn nodded next to him, writing furiously in his notebook. Muldoon didn't know what the hell he could possibly be writing, but wondered what importance to assess the structure in all of this. They had seen the jeeps enter at an angle, and as he refocused his scope, he could see there being a back entrance of sorts. There was another vehicle moving, and it seemed to have a horse trailer of some sort as it maneuvered. He felt his blood run cold, although it was too far away for him to see anything. But the similarity was unmistakable. As he watched, the trailer maneuvered through the gate, and as it reached the structure, entered through a slight garage that was barely visible. That was interesting but besides that there was nothing he could base proof on really.
They were here because Finn had gauged the direction of the footprints to have been heading for the hills, and upon climbing one, had seen this valley. It seemed like a rocky crag, but they were at a low pass where crossing to the other side was possible. "Theories, Mr. Finn?" Muldoon asked as he looked at the other man. Finn looked at him for a second, and stopped writing, pausing as he stood up and looked at the structure. He seemed confused, and Muldoon couldn't blame him overmuch. But then the man stepped forward, and gasped. He knelt down, and was staring further down the slope. Muldoon did not fail to notice and immediately swiveled his scope down to observe.
Ah, there they were, about halfway down the slope. The Compys, about three or four of them. They were too far away to notice the men, so that was good. The only reason he hadn't been concerned back in Acapulco was because it was close enough to civilization for the Compys to try anything. But here, they were at the base of the hill in the valley, obscured from outside sight by a series of large rocks that led all the way to the base of one of the gates. He could see them, but there was something odd. It seemed they were heading in the opposite direction from the structure. He frowned, and adjusted the sights as he narrowed the vision down again. Interesting, there were a series of tracks along where the Compys were walking, and it showed as slightly larger on his scope then the small indentions the Compys were making.
"I think you might have your answer Finn," he said as he stood up, looking down at the structure with a grim look. He didn't say that the answer was going to be good or maybe what Finn wanted to hear, but no matter. He was going to have to do it he realized. This structure was connected to what they had both been searching for. Somehow. Then as he moved, he realized what he had been stepping on. A feather. Blue like the one at Acapulco and in the opposite side of the valley. Interesting…"We're going to have to go in," he said to Finn who was furiously scribbling in his notebook again, probably about another 'anamoly sighting'. "I'm going to say it once, I have a feeling that this will be something beyond anomalies… we've reached a convergence point, he said as he looked down the slope. Yes, he should have realized, and he hadn't been looking out for it.
This wasn't a low pass. This was a game trail, heading straight down to the valley below.